Archaeological Department is in an attempt to appropriate the ancient Murugan temple located at Thennamaravadi village belonging to Kuchchaveli Divisional Secretariat in Trincomalee district, according to the people of this area.
The people of this area were uprooted following the anti-Tamil violence unleashed against them in 1984. During this anti-Tamil violence, this particular Murugan temple was also demolished.
The people of this area started worshiping the god Murugan by erecting god Murugan statue and “Vel” at this place soon after they were resettled there. People of this village got together and fiercely halted the attempts made by the Buddhist monks who have come to erect Buddha statue.
Archaeological Department, which has put its name board at the down hills, has been establishing a building. Archaeological Department has been assisting the efforts made to build a Buddhist temple after appropriating this place belonging to Tamils who have been worshiping there for years and years, according to the accusation made by the people.
The people of this area demanded the respective officials to make necessary arrangements to recover their temple and their place and also demanding to make sure their right to worship at their ancient temple located at their native land.
Kandiah Paramanathan, the Vice President of the Village Development Association, has stated that he who was born in 1952 and brought up at this village saw neither a Buddhist monk nor a Buddhist temple at this village.
He further added that people have the land deeds given during the British ruling in 1803 for the lands adjacent to this temple. However, their lands were appropriated by the Sinhalese people following their displacement due to the anti-Tamil violence unleashed against them in 1984.
Meanwhile, people of this area stated that they have been struggling to get their paddy and agricultural lands which were appropriated even after their resettlement back at their native village.
People of Thennamaravadi village call for everyone to unite to halt the attempts made to appropriate the ancient Murugan temple.
