A Buddhist monk has been arrested in Sri Lanka for filming the abuse of a German tourist by two other Sri Lankan men, reports Hiru News.

The monk, who is 17 years old, was arrested in Gandara as he filmed two other men abuse the German tourist on Thalalla beach, Matara.

Today marks the 23rd anniversary since the death of Sathasivam Krishnakumar alias Colonel Kittu, and nine other LTTE cadres, who committed suicide after being surrounded by Indian navy warships in 1993.

The General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena Gnanasara Thera slammed Sri Lanka’s government for attempting to bring in an act that “puts conditions” on the Buddhist clergy.

Reiterating that Buddhist clergies would not be controlled by parliament, and that any rules on monks should only be proposed by the Buddhist Sangha, Gnanasara Thera said,

“We are facing these problems because of not taking the right decision at the right time, a point which has not been understood by political leaders. We will not let the Act to be brought to the parliament. Ordinary people cannot put conditions on the clergy. If rules are to be implemented they should be proposed by the Chief Sangha Nayaka.”

Adding that monks would not present themselves before any court or magistrate, Gnanasara said,

“We respect the country’s law but we are not going to bow before the white man’s law unless it is relevant to our country."

Hundreds of students in Jaffna took to the streets earlier this week, to protest against government plans to establish private medical colleges.