Batti monk goes berserk

A Buddhist monk had gone berserk at a workshop organized by the National Peace Council (NPC) in Batticaloa yesterday.
NPC head Dr. Jehan Perera said that the workshop was part of a program organized to brief the public on the recommendations of the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).
He said that the workshop held yesterday was only for invitees and was organized after some participants of a previous meeting wanted clarifications on what the LLRC had to say on land issues.
A monk attached to the Mangalarama temple in Batticaloa had gone to the venue where the workshop was being held with some of his supporters.
He had wanted to attend the event despite not being invited. The organizers had then allowed him and a few of his supporters inside.
Once inside the monk had verbally abused the National Peace Council and criticized the workshop saying it was being used to tarnish the image of the government.
A tensed situation had developed during which time his supporters had allegedly assaulted some of the organizers.
Dr. Jehan Perera said that the police had then arrived at the location and brought the situation under control.
Both parties had lodged complaints over the incident with the police. Dr. Perera said that the matter was settled at the police station on the request of the police. (Colombo Gazette)
Report by Easwaran Rutnam