The Police Special Task Force (STF) has been deployed in the Mawanella town to tighten security following a suspected attack on a Buddhist shrine in the town.

According to the information received by the police, the glass enclosing the Buddha statute of the Shrine in front of the Dedimunda Devalaya near the Colombo Kandy Highway in the Hingula area in Mawanella had been damaged due to a stone thrown at it.

Army soldiers as well as STF police officers remain in the town while several police teams including the Mawanella Police have commenced investigations.

The same shrine had been attacked and damaged by a certain group two years ago. Police suspect this attack may also have been carried out by the same group. The Mawanella Police are conducting further investigations to arrest the suspects who had caused damage to the shrine two years ago.

In addition, a glass in front of a Buddha statue was damaged in Aluthnuwara town in the Mawanella police area. According to the residents of the area, the glass of this shrine was broken three days ago during the night, Neth News reported.

Police have recorded statements from several people in the area and are preparing to inspect footage of several CCTV cameras in the area today.