Karaithuraipatru Divisional Secretariat stated that building a Buddhist temple at the close proximity to Neeraviyadi Pillaiyar temple in Mullaitivu is illegal.
As the response to the question asked through the Right To info Act, it further added that Buddhists have never been at this place and this place has never been connected to Buddhism.
The people of Semmalai in Mullaitivu have been worshipping this temple for years and years. When the people got resettled at their native place, they could see the Buddha statue erected by the occupying Sri Lankan military at the proximity to the Neervaiyadi Pillai temple. After that, a Buddhist monk who came to stay there started making attempts to set up a Buddhist temple there.
Occupying military and the Archaeological Department were helping this monk who has been attempts to set up a Buddhist temple there. Meanwhile, People who came from South have interrupted the Pongal celebrations which organized to be held at this temple recently.
People of this area stated that they are much frustrated and frightened erecting the Buddhism related things at their village which have never been connected to Buddhism in anyway. They further added that they are afraid of the situation in this temple in future as even today they are unable to celebrate Pongal at their temple.
Meanwhile, Karaithuraipatru Divisional Secretariat has been approached by the Semmalai Village Development Association through the Right To info Act (RTI) to get the archaeological and historical information in this regard. As a response to this RTI, Karaithuraipatru Divisional Secretariat has revealed this information.
Karaithuraipatru Divisional Secretariat has further pointed out that permission has been given neither for building a Buddhist temple there nor for the monk to stay at the state land. The actions should be taken in this regard and the lands should be handed over to the owners, they further added.
