Ten suspects, including Venerable Balangoda Kassapa Thero and several other monks, have been brought to court in connection with the Trincomalee Buddha statue incident. 

They are currently in remand custody following a court order on 19 January, which was extended until today (28). 

The suspects, charged under the Coast Conservation Act for building an unauthorized structure in a protected coastal area where the Buddha statue was placed, remain in custody after the Attorney General (AG) and Trincomalee Harbour Police decided not to withdraw the charges. 

The case, initiated by the Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resources Management, was heard in the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court, where nine of the eleven named suspects appeared. The court ordered their continued remand after reviewing the case details. 

During detention, Venerable Balangoda Kassapa Thero launched a hunger strike, which was later temporarily suspended. unauthorised construction in a protected coastal zone.