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Friday, November 13 2026
Friday, November 13 2026
MONETABRIEF – Sri Lanka’s militant monk Balangoda Kassapa spun a galvanised pipe in a figure-of-eight flourish worthy of a ‘Shaolin’ novice, but the show ended with him being shoved into a police jeep.
The monk, an emerging leader of the anti-government struggle, had just launched a fast unto death at Ruwanweli Seya to demand a pardon for his jailed mentor, Galagodaaththe Gnanasara.
For good measure, he also demanded that the government’s Anuradhapura Sacred City development programme be scrapped, even though the restoration is being led by the chief priest of the very temple where he was protesting.
Enter local YouTuber monk Rajangane Saddharathana, who had recently been disrobed by his Nikaya over his vulgar language and frequent invective against the once-powerful Rajapaksa family.
Better known as ‘Rajangane’, the burly monk -- although no longer recognised as a clergyman by his Nikaya, or order -- read the riot act to the thinner and younger Kassapa, ordering him to clear out or be kicked out.
This was when Kassapa, a stranger to the area, demonstrated his dexterity. Passing the galvanised metal pipe from hand to hand as he spun it, he also goaded Rajangane into a fight.
The initial aggressor quickly turned timid when he realised he was hopelessly outnumbered by Kassapa’s colleagues, who were armed with wooden poles and appeared more menacing than Muttiah Muralitharan.
Kassapa proved that a pole is more powerful than prayers. After a few blows to the bald head of the now bare-bodied Rajangane, the latter was not only bleeding profusely but also pleading to be rushed to hospital.
Before the two sides came to blows, Rajangane’s supporters, who outnumbered the protesters, had removed a tent sheltering the monks who claimed they were on a death fast.
A large Buddha statue set up as insurance to protect the protesting monks was seen being carried back to the Ruwanweli Seya temple.
The bleeding monk was on his way to Anuradhapura Hospital, while police moved to arrest Kassapa, three other monks and two of their lay sidekicks.
A couple of days earlier, the Trincomalee magistrate had issued warrants for the arrest of Kassapa and the other monks who had caused a rumpus there in an unrelated case. All have been remanded until November 26.
The fast ended in a farce. (COLOMBO/Nov13/2026)
| 3 month bill | 9.26% | 1bp ▲ |
| 12-m bill | 9.95% | 2bp - |
| Gold (Ounce) | $4015 | - ▼ |
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