Court Releases Balangoda Kassapa Thera, Others on Bail in Coastal Land Dispute Case

COLOMBO (News 1st); Ten suspects, including Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera, who were in remand custody on charges of violating the Coast Conservation Act and unauthorised construction in Trincomalee, were granted bail by the High Court today (11).

This decision was made when the bail applications relating to the suspects were taken up before the High Court.

The incident originates from a protest staged when the Coast Conservation authorities had issued notice to remove a restaurant operating on a land near the Trincomalee coastal line. A group from Colombo arrived and intervened, escalating the situation.

During the protest, Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera and several others placed a Buddha statue at the site, and tensions rose further when a senior police officer arrived to control the situation.

The protesters claimed that the land had been allocated to the Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi Bodhiraja Viharaya during the tenure of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Following investigations into the incident, police arrested 10 suspects and produced them before court.

Those arrested include:

Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera, who organised and led the protest
Ven. Trikunamalaye Kalyanavanshatissa Thera, Chief Incumbent of the Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi Bodhiraja Viharaya
Ven. Trikunamalaye Sukhithavansha Tissa Thera
Ven. Trikunamalaye Nanda Thera

In addition, several civilians were arrested, including:

Deepani Liyanage, the UNP organiser for Trincomalee
Viduranga Lokugalapatti
L. T. Perera
Piyal Premasiri
Dulara Gunathilaka
Sudheepa Liyanage
Sugath Prasanna

On Monday, the suspects were produced before the Trincomalee High Court, where the State Counsel requested two days to file preliminary objections to the bail applications.

Granting the request, the High Court postponed the bail inquiry to today.

When the case was called today, the court ordered that bail be granted, consisting of:

A cash bail of Rs. 10,000, and
Two personal bails of Rs. 1 million each

“All suspects were released on bail today. The bail conditions include a Rs. 10,000 cash bail and two personal bails of Rs. 1 million each. Additionally, the court ordered that they must appear for all future court proceedings, ” said Attorney-at-Law Nuwan Ballanthuuda.

The case is scheduled to be taken up again on June 17.