Batticaloa Buddhist priest protests Police action

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 October 2008, 14:39 GMT]
Batticaloa Buddhist Vihare incumbent Chief priest, Ven. Sumanaratna Thero, led a protest fast near Batticaloa Clock Tower Saturday morning demanding the Police Officer in charge of Batticaloa police station to be transferred for refusing permission to participate in the opening ceremony of the new Appeal Court building in Batticaloa by Chief Justice Mr. Sarath N. Silva, earlier the same day.

Batticaloa police said that the above priest was not allowed to enter the place of the opening ceremony as he did not posses a formal invitation, and only persons with proper invitations were allowed in for security reasons.

A Saiva priest was also not allowed in as he did not bring the invitation, the police said.

Besides, Ven. Sumanaratna Thero has a civil case pending against him, and such persons are not allowed to participate in any event where the Chief Justice is present, the Police added.

Chief Justice Mr. Sanath N. Silva who is visiting Batticaloa district for the first time is scheduled to open a new Appeal Court in Kalmunai Sunday.