Girl abducted - temple burgled to cover expenses

By Sumanasiri Gunatilleka   

A young man who abducted a 14 year old schoolgirl who was in love with him and burgled the temple’s shrine room to find money for their journey and other expenses was arrested by Lunugamvehera police and handed over to Hingurukaduwa police.   

Chief Incumbent of Sri Indrasumanarama Temple in Hingurukaduwa Ven. Amunumulle Sumanasiri Thera said cash amounting to Rs.210,000 and several other items in the shrine room had been taken away.   

The Ven. Thera said he had been away from the temple to attend a religious ceremony in Passara area at the time of the incident. He said he returned to the temple to find a part of the roof and the ceiling in the shrine room broken open.   

On information from the villagers that they noticed the girl who had gone missing from home frequenting Uva -Pelwatta junction in the company of a young man, Hingurukaduwa police informed other police stations in the area.   

Lunugamvehera police that checked a Matara bound bus found the young man and the schoolgirl who eloped with him. They were handed over to Hingurukaduwa Police for further action.  

Investigations revealed that the 18 year old suspect had been staying in the temple for about three months and attending to manual work.   

OIC Hingurukaduwa Police Senerath Bandara is conducting further investigations.