(Tamil protesters block installation of Buddha statue at Tamil temple site in June 2022)
The Ministry of Religious Affairs in Sri Lanka has announced a collaborative effort with the Department of Archaeology to develop a bill aimed at formally “safeguarding” Buddhist places of worship throughout the island, including those in the Tamil North-East.
The new bill comes against the backdrop of tension among the Sri Lankan state and Eelam Tamils, where there has been a concentrated effort by Sinhala Buddhist monks and the government to claim places of worship belonging to Tamils. Local communities have been actively resisting efforts to seize land and construct new Buddhist viharas in the North-East.
“Our ministry is committed to allocating the required financial resources to implement crucial reforms aimed at safeguarding sacred sites,” said Vidura Wickramanayaka, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs.
The allocation of funds comes as Sri Lanka continues to grapple with an economic crisis that forced the government to seek out an emergency bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“The ministry anticipates disbursing the financial allocation to the respective sacred places by March 15, 2024,” he added.
His remarks come just days after Sri Lanka’s president Ranil Wickremesinghe committed to protecting and securing the 'Buddhist order' by declaring 11 Buddhist temples as 'sacred sites', of which four are in the Tamil North-East. At the time. the President Media Unit said, “the total count of sanctuaries recognised as sacred places of worship in Sri Lanka has now risen to 142.”
“Furthermore, our ministry stands prepared to execute President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s vision of establishing Sri Lanka as the Theravada International Buddhist Centre,” added Wickramanayaka.
Two weeks ago, Buddhist monks were escorted by the Army to the Vedukkunaari Adi Shiva temple in Vavuniya where the monks claimed that Tamil Hindu’s were forcibly placing statues and staking their place.
Tamils in the North-East have witnessed an escalation of increased ‘Sinhalisation’ throughout the provinces where there has been a concentrated and explicit attempt to destroy existing Hindu temples or erect Sinhala Buddhist viharas in place or adjoining them. Earlier last year, there was an increase in multiple incidents of vandalism at temples where Hindu deities were found missing or damaged.
Last week, Sri Lankan police prohibited Tamils from attending a monthly festival at a Hindu temple in Trincomalee. Police claimed that worship at the Kandasamimalai Murugan temple in Thennimaravadi was banned as the temple is located in an area that is claimed to be a Buddhist archaeological site.
