Trinco Buddha statue controversy : Courts granted bail to ten persons including four monks

The Buddha statue was later brought by police personnel to the spot where an illegal building was to be constructed by Buddhist monks last November in a U turn move by government. 

Trincomalee High Court granted bail for ten persons including four Buddhist monks yesterday over illegal construction of a shrine on a land belong to Department of Coastal Conservation and installing a  Buddha statue without any prior approvals. 

The suspects were arrested on January 19 and have been remanded under tough bail conditions at Trincomalee Magistrate Courts. 

Four Buddhist monks including  Balangoda Kassappa Thero and Trincomalee Kalyaanvansa Tissa Thero were among the ten suspects. 

Trincomalee High Court Magistrate N.M. Abdullah granted bail for suspects under cash bail of Rs 1000 and two personal sureties worth Rs one million each. 

On November 15 last year, a group of monks tried to install a Buddha statue near Trincomalee beach road on a land belong to Department of Coastal Conservation after erecting an illegal building complex.  (Northeastern Monitor/ February 12/2026)