Govt. admits northern land occupied to build a Vihara should be returned
The Sri Lankan government has accepted that it is necessary to fulfill the Tamil people’s long-standing demand for the return of land forcibly occupied by the army to build a Buddhist temple in the north.
Regional correspondents reported that, during the Jaffna District Development Committee meeting held on 13 December, Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) Leader requested the release of land owned by the Tamil people, where the Tissa Temple has been built by the army. The Committee Chairman, who is also the Fisheries Minister, has expressed agreement in this regard. This land is located in the Thaiyiddy area, within Valikamam-North, Kankesanthurai.
On the Unduvap Poya (full moon) Day, a day after Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar expressed his agreement, a protest had been staged in front of the Tissa Temple under the leadership of TNPF General Secretary and former MP Selvarajah Gajendran. During the protest, he had alleged that a road in Kankesanthurai, which had been opened before the election, had been closed by the Police, and that the Police had obstructed the protest for land rights. He pointed out that the Anura Kumara Dissanayake government came to power to take a stance for a system change free from racism and religionism.
“It was recently reported that these roadblocks had been removed. But, today, roadblocks have again been placed on the road used by the public and in front of this temple. The order to place these roadblocks was issued by the Buddhist monk who is responsible for establishing this illegal temple. The Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Palali Police Station has placed these roadblocks on the monk’s orders. We would like to ask whether the Palali Police Station OIC is working for the government or is he a slave of this monk?”
Buddhists believe that it was on the Unduvap Poya Day that the southern branch of the Sri Maha Bodhi tree was brought to Sri Lanka by Emperor Ashoka’s daughter, Sanghamitta Theri, and that Buddhist nun’s order in Sri Lanka began.
Sinhala-Buddhists believe that the Tissa Temple was built at the place where Sanghamitta Theri stopped to rest during her journey from India to Anuradhapura via Dambakola Patuna. This was, during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa (250-210 BC).
“In the recent past, under the guidance of the temple’s Chief Incumbent Thera and the Commanding Officers of the defense forces serving in the Jaffna Peninsula, this temple was revived. As a result, it was possible to hold the ‘Katina Pooja’ at the temple premises in 2019 after a 67-year hiatus,” the Sri Lanka Army added.
According to the Tamil people living in the area, the temple has been built on over six acres of land owned by 14 Tamil families.
During the meeting held on 13 December, TNPF Leader and MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam had informed District Development Committee Chairman and Minister Chandrasekar that the Tissa Temple had been built in an illegal manner.
“A Buddhist temple has been illegally built on private land in Thaiyiddy. The issue is that, this private land had been acquired to build this temple without any permission, despite the fact that there is another land belonging to the temple in Thaiyiddy.”
Emphasizing that a decision was taken at the District Development Committee meeting led by former Minister Douglas Devananda to release Tamil people’s land occupied to build the Tissa Temple, MP Gajendran had requested Minister Chandrasekar to implement that decision.
“During the last Parliamentary session, when your former Chairman was also present at the Coordinating Committee meeting, a decision was reached to investigate the matter, ascertain whether the land is a privately-owned one, and to release it. However, the relevant investigation report was not submitted to the Coordinating Committee meeting. The decision, which was reached unanimously several times, not being implemented is unacceptable. I humbly request that the areas forcibly occupied by the military be released and that such matters be included in the resettlement plans adopted by your government.”
Responding to the TNPF Leader, Minister Chandrasekar had stated that he too is of the opinion that the previous decision to release this land should be implemented.
“Illegally occupied land should be released. First of all, we have requested that a full report be provided if the land has been occupied by the military. Secondly, we have requested a full report about whether the military needs it, for what purpose does the military need it, and why is the land occupied. Even if the military occupies this land, it is ready to release 90% of the land. As pointed out by you, a decision has already been made, and my position is that we should move forward with that decision.”
On 29 April, the Sri Lanka Army had stated on its official news website that “the ceremony of placing the pinnacle (kotha) of the renovated Buddhist stupa at the historic Tissa Temple in Kankesanthurai was held on 27 April 2023.”
The army added: “History tells us that this temple, which has a history dating back to the third century AD, was built by King Devanampiyatissa.”
TNPF General Secretary and former MP Gajendran, who staged the protest in front of the Tissa Temple on 14 December (the Unduvap Poya Day), claimed that the incumbent government appears to have taken steps to continue to oppress the Tamil people.
“Hundreds of Police officers remain ready to chase us away despite the fact that we are holding this protest in a democratic and legal manner, and without causing any disruption to the traffic. All expenses for the Police are borne by the government. Using hundreds of Police officers and spending for vehicles in support of this unauthorized construction is an abuse of funds. This situation shows that even Anura’s government (a reference to the government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake) has begun to oppress the Tamil people.”
The Tamil people engaged in the protest pointed out that Thellippalai Divisional Secretary’s approval has not been granted for the construction of the temple.
