Man who stole idols from meditation centre arrested

The Mulleriyawa Police have arrested a suspect who stole a 25 kg brass idol of Shiva, a statue of the Kataragama deity and a small pagoda, worshiped by devotees visiting the Mahakaruna meditation centre in Pokunagoda within 48 hours.

The police say that these idols of Shiva, worth about Rs.420,000 were brought here from India. Police said that these idols were found in a glass chamber in the meditation centre bordering the Kelani river. A person who had come from the bank of the river broke the locks of the glass chamber and robbed them last Thursday morning .

Following a complaint made to the police by chief incumbent of the Maha Karuna Meditation Centre, Ven.Mapote Dhammasiri Thera (33), several fingerprints, which are presumed to be those of the suspect, were found on the glass chamber.