UNP Chairman Kabir Hashim, in a statement this afternoon, condemned the recent attacks against several Buddhist statues in the Mawanella area.

"I condemn the recent acts of violence committed against places of worship in Mawanella," Hashim, an elected representative from the area, said. 

As soon as I heard about the recent attacks I instructed the police to investigate and arrest those responsible. The two suspects have since been apprehended by the authorities and will be subject to the full extent of the law," he also added. 

One of the two suspects was apprehended by the villagers and handed over to the Police this morning. Both suspects, the Police said, are Muslim youth. 

Both of them will be produced before the Magistrate today, Police sources said. Investigations are underway to ascertain the reasons behind the attacks.