The 30-year-old Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, Indrarathana Thero, who set himself on fire in front of Temple of the Tooth in Kandy on Friday in protest aga-inst slaughter of cows in the Island nation, died at Government General Hospital in Colombo on Saturday.
A former member of the Pelmadulla Pradeshiya Sabha and currently the Chief Incumbent of the Sri Sugatha Poranuwa Buddha Vihara in Kandy, Thero had been admitted with over 80 per cent burns. He succumbed to his injuries at 8.30 pm. The monk had informed the media of his intention to protest against cow slaughter and some TV channels showed footage of the self-immolation. The police are now looking for an accomplice. Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa asked government to immediately ban cow slaughter.