Sri Lanka Police have issued a clarification statement regarding a video currently circulating on social media platforms, showing a commotion that occurred during the installation of a Buddha statue in Trincomalee.
According to the Police, a complaint was made to the Trincomalee Harbour Police by the Department of Coast Conservation on November 16, about an unauthorized hut being constructed within a coastal area close to the Trincomalee town to install a Buddha statue.
Following this, the Officer-in-Charge of the Trincomalee Police Division and other police officers visited the site and ordered the halt of this unauthorized construction. However, the construction activities had continued.
The Police said the Ministry of Environment had informed the Chief Incumbent of the Temple in writing in October, to halt the unauthorized construction on a land adjacent to the temple. But the construction had continued, and the Buddha statue was to be placed there in this backdrop.
The Sri Lanka Police noted that this incident has the potential to create discord among communities and is a very sensitive issue that affects all communities.
It further pointed out that, as exploiting this incident to deliberately damage the Buddha statue could lead to a complex issue that disrupts the peaceful life of the province, the Trincomalee Police took steps to remove the Buddha statue from the site for its safety and bring it to the Trincomalee Police Station.
The Police further said that while the officers were taking action to remove the unauthorized construction, a group that had gathered at the site became agitated. The Police officers at the scene had managed the situation, and no harm was caused to any religious dignitary or the public.
Furthermore, as the situation in the province is currently peaceful, and an agreement has been reached with relevant parties regarding future actions, the Buddha statue, which was taken into police custody for its safety, has been handed over to the custody of the respected Maha Sangha for its final placement.
The Police added that the relevant facts regarding this incident are scheduled to be presented to the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court today (17). (Newswire)
