Ethnic majoritarian people from South have disrupted the people of Semmalai, Mullaitivu, who went to celebrate Pongal at the Neeraviyadi Pillaiyar temple.
It has been stated that military and police have intervened into this matter to control the situation. Temple administration already announced that Pongal Celebrations would be taken place at the temple on 14th of January.
Meanwhile, it was already accused that attempts were being made to appropriate the temple premises with the intent to construct a Buddhist temple. In addition, after placing a new name board mentioning “Ganadevi Devalaya”, attempts are being made to open a massive Buddha statue at this temple premises.
Local Council, general public, representatives of the people and the temple administration expressed their fierce opposition to the attempts being made to construct a Buddha statue at the temple premises. Following the fierce opposition, attempts to construct a Buddhist temple at the place where no Buddhists live have been halted.
However, construction activities of the Buddhist temple at the Neeraviyadi Pillaiyar temple premises have been speeded up following Mahinda Rajapakse was sworn in as the Prime Minister on 20th of October last year.
Subsequently, the name “Neeraviyadi Pillaiyar- Old Semmalai” was removed and it has been renamed as “Ganadevi Devalaya”. In addition, arrangements to open a new Buddha statue have also been speeded up.
In the meantime, ethnic majoritarian people from South have disrupted the people of Semmalai, Mullaitivu, who went to celebrate Pongal at the Neeraviyadi Pillaiyar temple.
