By Rohana Jayaratne and Jayanath Senanayake

Three individuals including two Buddhist monks have been arrested in connection with the theft of ancient relics from the upper-level Buddha shrine of the Karahampitigoda Khettarama ancient temple.

The stolen items including an ancient miniature silver Makara Thorana (archway) and seven bronze Buddha statues, were recovered along with two vehicles used in the crime. The theft occurred on the night of 27 Nov.

The suspects are a monk residing at a temple in Dompe, another monk from a temple in Mahaiyawa, Kandy, and the owner of a tourist hotel in Peradeniya.

Arrests were made by a police team from the Kegalle District Crime Investigation Unit, led by Senior Police Superintendent Y.L. Leelawansa under the directives of Sabaragamuwa Province Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Sanjeeva Dharmarathna.

The theft became public after Ven. Medirigiriye Punyasara Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the Devanagala Raja Maha Viharaya, lodged a complaint with the Mawanella Police on 28 Nov. Investigations were promptly initiated under the instructions of SDIG Dharmarathna. The stolen artifacts, estimated to be worth over Rs. 25 million, are considered part of the temple’s priceless heritage.

The investigation team, supervised by Kegalle District Deputy Inspector General of Police Roshan Rajapaksha, comprised Chief Inspector Apsara K. Abeysekara, Sergeant Roshan (69319), Sergeant Bandara (75291), Constables Upul (78543), Kasun (91060), and driver Constable (16054).

The suspects, along with the recovered artifacts, have been handed over to the Mawanella Police and they will be produced before the Mawanella Magistrate’s Court.

Police said two young monks, who were in the temple at the time of the theft, had gone missing.