A group of TMVP cadres including the Chairman of the Wellawali Pradeshiya Sabha in Batticaloa had allegedly been abducted and later released Chief Incumbent of a temple after warning that the monk should give up his support for a group of Sinhalese calling for land rights in the Eastern Province.
The monk had faced the alleged incident when he was returning from Wellaweli area after going there yesterday morning to look in to some paddy lands owned by Sinhalese in that area.
The Chief Incumbent of the Mangalaramaya in Batticaloa, Ven. Ampitiye Sumana thera, told ‘The Island’ that he had been abducted and taken to the office of the PC Chairman and detained there for hours. “I was man handled and some even tried to hit me while the chairman threatened to kill me if I do not stop supporting the campaign for Sinhalese land rights,” he said.
“I was told that all lands in the East belonged to none other than Tamils. If anyone tries to claim any rights he or she would be killed,” he said.
The monk said he had complained to the SP Batticalao of this abduction.
Ampitiye Sumana thera had earlier staged a hanger strike opposite his temple several months ago against organized groups coercing Sinhalese out of the lands in the Eastern Province.
By Hemantha Randunu
IS