The shrine room of the ancient Attanagalla Raja Maha Vihara was broken into by burglars, who escaped with three caskets containing relics, an ancient Samadhi statue, three marble statues, and an offertory box. The money in the offering box was also looted.
It is reported that the robbery took place while civil defence and police protection were provided at the temple. According to a complaint made by the administrator at the Attanagalla temple, Alawala Samitha Thero, to the Attanagalla police, investigations have now been started.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the window of the shrine room was opened, and the grill covering the window was removed by the burglars before they escaped with the loot.
The temple administrator, Alawala Samitha Thero, has told police that the relics chamber is usually opened on Pohoya days, and when it was opened yesterday for the purpose of cleaning the chamber in view of the Vesak Pohoya, the information about this robbery came to light.
The police say that investigations are underway and that some fingerprints have been discovered. Police sniff dogs were deployed this morning, and investigations are to be continued.
The Attanagalla police are conducting investigations into the incident.
