Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala today clarified that a tense situation was reported in Trincomalee yesterday over the placing of a Buddha Statue at a Dhamma School in a Buddhist Temple in the area.
Addressing the Parliament today, Minister Wijepala said the statue was immediately removed by the Police following the tense situation.
He further said that, however, steps have been taken to place the statue at the Dhamma school today, and that special police protection would be provided for the safety of the statue.
“The statue was removed yesterday after the Police had received information on possible vandalism. The tense situation had arisen due to the Buddha statue. We have issued a directive to the Police to place the statue at the Dhamma school today. A special security plan will also be implemented from today for the safety of the statue,” he said.
Minister Wijepala further clarified that the Department of Coast Conservation had filed a complaint with regard to a restaurant operating in the area, claiming that it was illegal.
He said the Police are taking the necessary measures to initiate legal action in this regard. “We can only act in this regard based on the court’s directive,” he added.
Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, who previously praised the minister for removing the statue, slammed the latter for backtracking on his actions, using vandalism as a reason.
“A major U-turn by the Public Security Minister this morning. He has walked back his earlier stance and now says the illegal temple will receive police protection, claiming the statue was removed only to prevent vandalism. It’s an embarrassing climbdown, and it’s obvious the minister and the government have given in to nationalist pressure,” he said, in a post on ‘X’.
Slamming the minister’s reference to vandalism, MP Shanakiyan pointed out that the Tamil Community has never destroyed religious shrines, not even during a 30-year war.
“And let’s be honest. Tamil people have never destroyed religious shrines, not even during a 30-year war. Using “vandalism” as an excuse is not just unconvincing, it’s an insult to a community that has always respected places of worship,” he added.
A video circulated on social media shows a Buddhist monk stating that the site is a religious heritage location. However, it was also reported that the land falls under the jurisdiction of the Coastal Conservation Department, and complaints had been filed regarding unauthorized activity on the premises.
According to the Police, the land is subject to a court order prohibiting any development. A group had reportedly brought a Buddha statue to the site, which was taken to the police station, after a tense situation. (Newswire)