Four Buddhist monks, including Venerable Balangoda Kassapa Thera, and five others have been further remanded until 11 February in connection with an incident involving a Buddha statue in the Trincomalee area.

The group was further remanded after being produced before the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court today. 

On November 16 last year, unrest arose after attempts were made to remove a Buddha statue placed at a temple in Trincomalee.

However, regarding this incident, the Coast Conservation Department lodged a complaint with the police, stating that the construction was unauthorized, and when attempts were made to remove the statue, strong opposition was raised by monks and local residents.

In relation to the case being heard at the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court, the parties involved were summoned, and the court ordered that they be remanded on charges of violating coastal conservation laws by the placement of a Buddha statue at the Trincomalee Bodhiraja Vihara.

Since then, the group has been further remanded over the incident. (Newswire)

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Four Buddhist monks, including Venerable Balangoda Kassapa Thera, and five others have been further remanded until 02 February in connection with an incident involving a Buddha statue in the Trincomalee area.

The group was further remanded after being produced before the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court today. 

On November 16 last year, unrest arose after attempts were made to remove a Buddha statue placed at a temple in Trincomalee.

However, regarding this incident, the Coast Conservation Department lodged a complaint with the police, stating that the construction was unauthorized, and when attempts were made to remove the statue, strong opposition was raised by monks and local residents.

In relation to the case being heard at the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court, the parties involved were summoned, and the court ordered that they be remanded on charges of violating coastal conservation laws by the placement of a Buddha statue at the Trincomalee Bodhiraja Vihara. (Newswire)

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Four monks including Venerable Balangoda Kassapa Thera, and five others have been remanded in connection with an incident involving a Buddha statue in the Trincomalee area.

On November 16 last year, unrest arose after attempts were made to remove a Buddha statue placed at a temple in Trincomalee.

However, regarding this incident, the Coast Conservation Department lodged a complaint with the police stating that the construction was unauthorized, and when attempts were made to remove the statue, strong opposition was raised by monks and local residents.

In relation to the case being heard at the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court, the parties involved were summoned, and the court ordered that they be remanded until January 19.

The Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court issued the order on charges of violating coastal conservation laws by the placement of a Buddha statue at the Trincomalee Bodhiraja Vihara. (Newswire)

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Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa questioned the police intervention during a tense situation at the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Bodhiraja Vihara in Trincomalee yesterday, warning of fueling communal tensions.

Citing Chapter Two of the Constitution, which grants Buddhism a foremost place while ensuring respect for other religions, he emphasized that the temple, established in 1951 and registered with the Department of Buddhist Affairs in 2010, holds legal status as a place of worship. 

MP Premadasa condemned the police for issuing orders regarding the placement of Buddha statues and the construction of Dhamma school buildings, warning that such actions could fuel communal tensions.

Addressing the Parliament today, he stated that if there is any issue regarding the matter, it should be resolved through dialogue with the three Chief Prelates of the Buddhist sects. 

“Sending police to disrupt development activities is unacceptable, and under whose authority were such orders issued? If the government does not understand the supreme law of the land, the Constitution, it should read it again,” he added. 

The Opposition Leader also criticized the Speaker for blocking opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara from raising related concerns, calling it a violation of democratic rights. 

MP Sajith Premadasa made the remarks in connection with the tense situation that was reported in Trincomalee yesterday. 

The tense situation arose after a group of monks had attempted to place a statue of the Lord Buddha at a Dhamma school at a Buddhist temple in the area. 

A video circulated on social media shows a Buddhist monk claiming 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. (Newswire)

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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)

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