Balangoda Kassapa Thero and others further remanded until the 28th

Four monks, including Venerable Balangoda Kassapa Thero, and six others who were arrested in connection with an incident at the Bodhiraja Temple in Trincomalee have been ordered to be further remanded until the 28th.

Venerable Balangoda Kassapa Thero and nine suspects were remanded yesterday (Jan. 14) in connection with the unauthorized construction of Buddhist religious buildings and the installation of a new Buddha statue on the Trincomalee coast.

The group thus remanded was produced before the Trincomalee Magistrate's Court today (Jan. 19) and it was ordered that the group be further remanded until the 28th.

Charges have been filed against the suspects for constructing a structure and installing a statue on the coast in November 2025 in violation of the Coastal Protection Ordinance.