A tense situation and a clash erupted near the historic Ruwanweli Maha Seya in Anuradhapura this morning (12). The altercation broke out between a group staging a fast unto death against the proposed Anuradhapura Sacred City development plan and another group arriving from outside.
A fast unto death launched by three Buddhist monks, including Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thero, demanding the withdrawal of the proposed development gazette notification and the release of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, entered its second day today. Alongside the fast, protesters had also been staging a satyagraha at the site for several days.
The unrest began when a group including Ven. Rajangane Saddharathana Thero and several laypersons arrived at the protest site. Some reports noted that a group of laypersons carrying clubs had arrived with them. Initially, a heated verbal dispute flared up between the visiting group and those occupying the site, which quickly escalated into a physical brawl.
During the clash, an assault carried out by the group at the site, including Kassapa Thero, resulted in a severe head injury to Rajangane Saddharathana, causing heavy bleeding. Following this rough physical confrontation between both factions, the peace of the sacred grounds was completely disrupted. Unbecoming scenes of individuals clad in saffron robes fighting among themselves also caused deep shock among Buddhists.
Acting promptly, police and security personnel intervened to bring the situation under control, and police protection has now been deployed to the area. Notably, this incident occurred against the backdrop of earlier court orders issued regarding the location where the protest was taking place.
Further details regarding the precise chain of events that triggered the brawl are being established. What began as a protest against the Sacred City development plan has ultimately devolved into bloodshed and intense tension outside a sacred shrine, necessitating the intervention of security forces.
