Five women residents of the area were arrested following a complaint that a 48-year-old monk living in a temple located in the Weeradadana area of Monnekulama was sexually harassed and assaulted, Kotavehera Police said.
The women were presented to the Nikaweratiya court and one woman was remanded until May 4. The other four women were released on bail.The arrested women are aged 32, 68, 44, 46, and 38 years.
The police say that the only monk who resides in this temple has had conflicts with some of the villagers for some time. The police say that they have received continuous complaints from both sides for about two years and that they have investigated each complaint.
This temple was built by the villagers who even donated their property to the temple. Since the village does not have a temple, this temple was built in 2018 with the donations of the villagers and it was dedicated to a monk who once lived in a temple in Southern Province. At that time, he was in a temple in Kalpitiya.
The police say that this monk has not been staying in this temple for a long time and one of his close friends or followers resides in this temple. Nine monks have been residing in this temple from time to time.
Police say that the villagers are currently divided into two groups and there are about 10 to 15 families in favour of the temple while the rest of the families are against the temple. According to the police, the reasons given by the villagers are that the religious activities are not properly performed in this temple.
The police recently received complaints that the name board and the electric water pump of this temple had been stolen.
About two months ago, a group of villagers occupied the temple saying that they will not leave the premises until the resident monk leaves. The police intervened and removed the villagers from the temple. The police have also taken steps to inform the District Secretary about this issue.
Police said that on April 25, a group of women from the village went to the temple and harassed the monk forcing him to leave the temple. The monk has given the names of six women who had harassed him.One more woman is to be arrested.
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