Ul apane Sumangala Thera Accuses Police of Deliberately Creating Clash Involving Kassapa Thera

Ven. Ulapane Sumangala Thera has accused the police of deliberately creating a confrontation in which Ven. Kassapa Thera was allegedly assaulted, while criticising media reports that he claims have distorted the facts surrounding the incident.

Speaking at a media briefing, Ven. Sumangala Thera said officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had recorded a lengthy statement from him, lasting nearly five hours, regarding remarks he had made about the alleged assault on Ven. Kassapa Thera by officers attached to the Central Division.

He alleged that a media outlet supportive of the government had distorted the facts in its coverage of the incident, describing the reporting as unethical and saying the media briefing had been organised to clarify the situation.

Recalling the incident, Ven. Sumangala Thera said a major commotion was already taking place when they arrived at the scene and that Ven. Kassapa Thera had fallen to the ground.

He claimed that police officers had assaulted people who were present at the scene and that those individuals had shouted in the darkness, alleging that an assault had taken place. He further alleged that members of the public had pushed the police officers back.

According to Ven. Sumangala Thera, the police had deliberately created a confrontation, leaving Ven. Kassapa Thera among those affected by the incident.

He also said that he had spoken with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and had informed him about the alleged assault at the time.

Questioning the police response, Ven. Sumangala Thera criticised the Police Media Spokesperson's reported explanation that the monk had slipped and fallen. He also said Ven. Kassapa Thera had been taken to a private hospital following the incident.

Responding to claims that no formal complaint had been lodged, Ven. Sumangala Thera questioned why they should spend hours at a police station filing a complaint.

He further alleged that reports were being circulated portraying the incident as a false claim of assault and suggesting that police had questioned him in connection with the matter.

Concluding his remarks, Ven. Sumangala Thera accused the authorities of using what he described as state terrorism to threaten people on social media.