Police are investigating a suspended custodian at Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devale on a complaint that he had taken away cash and gold offered by devotees.
Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon ordered the probe after Basnayake Nilame Dishan Gunasekara complained the suspect had deposited Rs. one million in the bank account of the Devale.
A custodian normally receives cash and gold worth between four and five million rupees a month, said the complaint against Thimlath Ratnayake Sanath Premakumara.
He has been suspended since 29 July 2022, but had forcibly carried out services at the Devale for one month till 13 December.
Buddhist affairs commissioner general Keerthi Siribaddana has said the Basnayake Nilame had powers to act if a suspended custodian carried out the services.
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