Police surround Jathika Bikku Peramuna office to 'search for explosives'

Police searched the Jathiika Bikku Peramuna office located at a temple in Kotahena last night, but were prevented by the monks from carrying out a further search on the grounds the police did not have a search warrant, a spokesman for the temple said.

Police claimed they wanted to search the location on information that there were explosives inside the temple, but the monks had demanded the search warrant. However the police had insisted they could search the place and started the search, but in the wake of protests by the monks they had stopped the search.

However the police had recorded statements from the monks and questioned them about the activities taking place at the temple where the Buddhist Research Centre is also located.

The incident came few hours after the Jathika Bikku Peramuna in a letter to the President said they had organised a Bodhi Poojas at three temples for Gen Sarath Fonseka on Sunday, but the monks had been threatened by unidentified groups not to have the events.

They said even the notices put up regarding the Bodhi Pooja had been pulled down.

They urged the President to give priority to the protection of Buddhism as gurantteed in the Constitution.