Kandy Kataragama Devala Basnayake Nilame assaulted

Kandy Sri Kataragama Devala Basnayake Nilame Thushan Wathugodapola has been admitted to the Kandy General Hospital after being allegedly assaulted by a group of people, police said.

Peradeniya police said the assault had taken place following a dispute over a block of land belonging to the Malwatte Viharaya located close to the Gatambe Junction in the vicinity of the Mahaweli River where the Water cut- ting ceremony . Chief Inspector Jaliya Heenkenda said a police team had been deployed to arrest the absconding assailants.

The dispute has erupted after several people who had been living on the land for sometime attempted to claim rights to the land.