February 09, Colombo (LNW): The Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court has ordered that four Buddhist monks, among them Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thero, along with six laypersons, remain in remand custody until February 11, 2026.
The group was taken into custody in connection with the installation of a Buddha statue at the Bodhiraja Vihara in Trincomalee on November 16, 2025. Authorities allege that the statue was placed in a protected coastal area without the required approvals, breaching existing coastal conservation regulations.
