Arrest warrant issued as Ampitiye Sumana Thera reported missing

The Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court yesterday (15) issued a warrant for the arrest of Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera, after he failed to appear for a scheduled hearing, and the Police informed the court that he was missing.

The court order was issued after he failed to appear for a case filed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act over allegations of inciting racial hatred.

When the case was taken up, the Court noted that the Batticaloa Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) had been summoned to explain the failure to arrest the accused. 

However, a Batticaloa Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) appeared instead and informed the Magistrate that Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera is currently untraceable.

Given the seriousness of the charges under the ICCPR Act, the case has been scheduled to be heard at the Batticaloa High Court today (17).

Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera is wanted in connection with a case based on a complaint filed by Attorney‑at‑Law Dhanuka Rananjaka Kahandagamage on October 23, 2023. 

According to the complaint, Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera allegedly made aggressive remarks against the Tamil community in Batticaloa, threatening in the presence of police officers that “every Tamil person living in the South will be cut and killed.” (Newswire)

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