Police Launch Investigation into Alleged Inciting Remarks by Balangoda Kassapa Thera

The Cinnamon Gardens Police has informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court that an investigation has been launched into statements allegedly made by Venerable Balangoda Kassapa Thera during the Satyagraha held at Viharamahadevi Park, which are alleged to have incited the public and misled people.

Police stated that the investigation was initiated following a complaint lodged by the headquarters of the National People's Power. 

A group including Venerable Balangoda Kassapa Thera staged a Satyagraha at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo over the past several days, demanding the immediate release of Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, who is currently serving a prison sentence for contempt of court.

The Cinnamon Gardens Police informed court today that Jagath Basnayake, an organiser attached to the headquarters of the National People's Power (NPP), had lodged a complaint alleging that Venerable Balangoda Kassapa Thera had made false statements to the media during the protest that were capable of inciting the public, misleading people and undermining public confidence.

Police further told Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama that a statement made by Venerable Balangoda Kassapa Thera to the media on the 22nd of October, regarding two individuals who had allegedly arrived at Viharamahadevi Park carrying two knives, was entirely false and misleading.

Police submitted that the dissemination of false statements constitutes a violation of Section 98 of the Police Ordinance and informed court that an investigation had been commenced into the remarks. Police also requested the court to direct media institutions to provide unedited footage relating to the statements.

After considering the facts presented, the Magistrate ordered media institutions to provide the police with the unedited footage relating to the statement in question and further directed police to promptly report the progress of the investigation to the court.