Attanagalla Magistrate Manjula Karunaratne has ordered a Buddhist monk to remove an illegally built house on railway reserve land in Wijaya Rajadahana of Mirigama within one month and appear before court, Lankadeepa reported.

The order was issued after the legal division of the Railway Security Force filed a case against the monk, who had constructed and been residing in the unauthorised structure on the protected railway land.

At a previous hearing, the monk had promised the court to remove the structure within two months. However, when the case was called again on 25 July, Sub-Inspector Priyantha Nandanathilaka of the Railway Security Division informed the court that the monk had not complied with the court’s directive and continued to occupy the property.

Attorney Asela Abeysundara, representing the monk, explained that the delay was due to preparations for an upcoming Katina Pooja and requested more time.

Magistrate Karunaratne, delivering his order in open court, said that religion and the law must not be confused. “We must all respect the law. The law applies equally to everyone,” he stated, before directing the monk to remove the illegal structure within one month. (Courtesy: Lankadeepa)