A notice has been issued to Ven. Sumanarathana Thero to appear before the court or give a statement to the police for obstructing the duties of archaeological department officials in the Chenkaladi Batticaloa area.

The controversial monk threatened several Archaeology Department officials and attempted to slap one of them over a delay to demarcate an archaeological reservation land.

According to the video footage of the incident, the monk also held several archeological officials hostage.

The police had to intervene and secure the release of the officials who were held by the monk in an office room.