Police on trail of Bhikku's assassins

Chamikara Weerasinghe

MORAWEWA: The special police team investigating the assassination of the Chief Incumbent of the Pabbatharamaya temple at Morawewa, yesterday affirmed they had found a couple of new leads which they believe would lead them to identify the killers.

The cremation of Ven. Handungamuwe Nandarathana Thera will take place on May 16.

The Thera was reported to have been shot dead by three gunmen who had come on two motorcycles around 9.15 a.m. on May 13. The Thera was a former serviceman. Senior Superintendent of Police, Kantale Division, H.S.Dayananda said that they had found clues on the assassination.

"We are investigating the incident from many sides. We are positive on identifying the suspects once the initial investigations have been completed," said SSP Dayananda. He said that there had been no reports of unrest over the incident among the public in Morawewa.

Ven. Devananda Thera, a senior monk at Pabbatharamaya Temple condemned the assassination, saying it was a brutal act committed against a man's rights to live and his right to self expression.

"The late Viharadhipathi, Ven. Nandarathana Thera had done a great service to the Sasana by his very presence in this temple under difficult circumstances amidst threats of terrorism," said Ven. Devananda Thera.

"He engaged in religious activities by preaching Dhamma and participating in pirith chanting ceremonies for the welfare of the villagers. This he did even when there was hardly any dana being provided for his sustenance," he said.