The attack left four monks, three them Sinhalese, injured.
The motive is suspected to be a retaliation by the group for the alleged killing of fishermen from Tamil Nadu by the Sri Lankan navy. Three fishermen have already been killed so far this year.
"We have short listed certain suspects, so we are very close to catching them. We will crack it in a day or two," said Commissioner of Police, Chennai T Rajendran.
"We have given them (monks) security now. We have posted pickets and round the clock security. It will be there for sometime," said Rajendran.
The attack on the Buddhist center forced the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India to fly down to meet Tamil Nadu's Chief Secretary and raise his concerns.
India had earlier strongly raised the issue of safety of it's fishermen with Sri Lanka and Colombo had denied it's navy's involvement. Now the high commissioner says the navy would not fire on fishermen even if they stray into Sri Lankan waters.
"We want to work with Indian Government to ensure that Indian fishermen are not harmed even when they cross into Sri Lankan waters and fish on our waters. Even if they cross into Sri Lankan waters, Sri Lankan Navy will not fire on them," said High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Prasad Kariyawasam.
Over the last three decades nearly 200 fishermen from Tamil Nadu have been killed in the waters between Sri Lanka and India, but the issue has often gained political momentum ahead of an election. This time too the issue of fishermen has been used by the Opposition in the state to make a political point.
"The Opposition led by Jayalalithaa has alleged that the DMK and the Central Government has done little to protect fishermen. And now Sri Lanka has raised questions over the attack on the Buddhist center.
It's clear that the issue of Indian fishermen killed in the waters between the two country will continue gain political momentum ahead of the 2011 assembly polls.
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