Sri Lanka, Jan. 19 -- Four Buddhist monks, including Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thero, and six other individuals who were arrested and subsequently remanded for allegedly violating coastal conservation laws by placing a Buddha statue at the Trincomalee Bodhiraja Viharaya have been further remanded.

The group has been further remanded until January 28 by the Trincomalee Magistrate's Court.

They were accused of placing a Buddha statue at the Trincomalee Bodhiraja Vihara on November 16, 2025 in violation of coastal conservation laws.

A tense situation arose following an attempt by authorities to remove the statue from the temple premises.

The Coast Conservation Department had previously lodged a complaint with the police, stating that the co...