The Central Crimes Investigation Division (CCID) on Thursday arrested Venerable Rajangane Saddharathana Thera in connection with allegedly insulting and threatening senior government and police officials through social media posts.
Police said the monk had targeted Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala, Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya and a Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in the posts. Ada Derana characterised the conduct as “threats” while Newswire described it as “insults,” but both reports tie the arrest to remarks circulated on his social media channels.
The monk operates a YouTube channel and has previously drawn attention for outspoken political commentary. The CCID is the principal cybercrime investigation arm of the Sri Lanka Police; the unit has stepped up enforcement against alleged online harassment of senior officials in recent weeks, including other social-media-related complaints referred to it for investigation.
Police did not immediately disclose the specific posts or the courts in which the monk would be produced. The arrest comes a day after the government extended the State of Emergency for a third successive month, broadening police powers under Public Security Ordinance regulations.
