Seven Buddhist monks, accused of leading a mob to attack and vandalise two churches, were granted bail by a Sri Lankan court today.
Police had identified 24 people, including eight monks, for the attack on the churches in the southern resort town of Hikkaduwa on January 12.
They were produced before a magistrate in the southern port town of Galle, who granted bail to seven monks. The court fixed March 17 as the next date of hearing.
On January 16, a court directed police to arrest those involved in the attack, which was filmed by TV news crews.
The attackers demanded that the churches should be demolished as they were allegedly functioning without proper government authorisation.
Police was accused of inaction against the attackers. Police spokesman Ajith Rohana had admitted to what he called police "inaction" because of insufficient numbers.
Sri Lanka has come under pressure from human rights and civil society groups to protect religious minorities as attacks on non-Buddhist religious places increased throughout 2012 and 2013.
Nationalist groups have been accused of attacking scores of Christian and Muslim prayer centers.
They claimed that these religious places were operating without permission. The groups alleged that poor sections of the majority Buddhist community are being offered money to convert by Christians.
The US Embassy called for an end to impunity in attacks on places of worship after the Hikkaduwa incident.
