Category: Featured Headlines

The Amarapura Buddhist Sect stated that the newly established Buddha Sasana Council – which brings together the secretaries of all chapters of the Buddhist sects – will compile a detailed report on land related disputes involving Buddhist temples across the country.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Secretary of the Sect, Ven. Balapitiye Siri Seevali Thera said that the secretaries of the three main Buddhist sects – Siam, Ramanna, and Amarapura – have been instructed by the relevant Chief Prelates (Mahanayakas) to prepare a clear plan on resolving land issues faced by Buddhist temples.

He further said that these matters would also be presented before the said Council, which was established under the current Government. “The Council is represented by the secretaries of all the 31 chapters of the Buddhist sects. We are planning to compile a full report on the problems faced by temples and to submit it to the authorities.”

The developments come amid growing criticism from the Buddhist clergy over the removal of a Buddha statue from the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Bodhiraja Viharaya in Trincomalee on 16 November of this year. The statue had been placed at the premises of the Viharaya – a temple registered since 1951 – following a foundation-laying ceremony earlier that day to restart the Dhamma School destroyed in the 2004 tsunami.

Police later informed the Chief Incumbent that the Coast Conservation Department had complained of an unauthorised construction. That night, Police officers removed the statue, resulting in protests from monks and residents. Two monks were later hospitalised, claiming that they were injured during the incident. The Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala, addressing the Parliament, said that the removal was a precaution based on information that the statue could be damaged. The statue, which remained under Police protection, was later returned to the clergy and the villagers.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal (CA) yesterday (19) scheduled a hearing on 16 December to consider a petition seeking an injunction to prevent the implementation of an order issued by the Coastal Conservation Department to remove a part of the said Viharaya. The petition was filed by the Chief Incumbent of the Temple, Ven. Trincomalee Kalyanawamsathissa/Kalyanawansathissa Thera. During the proceedings, the Judge noted that it would be appropriate to resolve the matter amicably. Accordingly, both parties – including officials from the Department and their legal representatives – agreed in court that the Department would inspect the site and provide findings, based on which an appropriate decision could be made. The Justice ordered that the progress of the inspection be reported on 16 December when the petition is next heard. Until these procedures are completed, the CA instructed both parties to take measures to maintain peace in the area.

Moreover, the Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs Ministry stated recently that it was working on long-term solutions concerning religious sites built on lands once owned by residents in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. The Deputy Minister Gamagedara Dissanayake told The Daily Morning on an earlier occasion the Government should now prioritise returning such lands to their original owners, adding the Government intended to pursue case-specific approaches.

The United Kingdom has reiterated its continued support for religious freedom and the protection of the rights of all faith communities in Sri Lanka, Parliamentary Under-Secretary Seema Malhotra told UK Parliament.

In response to a written question, Malhotra informed Parliament that the UK consistently raises concerns over religious tolerance and the safeguarding of the rights of all Sri Lankans to practice their faith without discrimination. The British High Commission in Colombo continues to engage with government officials, religious leaders, minority communities, and civil society groups to address concerns and encourage interfaith dialogue.

She highlighted that during a visit to Sri Lanka in January 2025, the former UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific met activists working on freedom of religion or belief, reaffirming Britain’s commitment to defending fundamental rights.

More recently, the current Minister for the Indo-Pacific met with Sri Lanka’s Speaker, Justice Minister, and other senior officials in October, where discussions focused on the importance of upholding human rights and ensuring an inclusive and transparent reconciliation process, she said.

Malhotra stressed that the UK remains committed to supporting Sri Lanka’s efforts to promote equality, religious coexistence, and long-term reconciliation.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament yesterday that a renewed investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks is now underway, stressing that previous attempts to uncover the truth were deliberately obstructed when political groups suspected of involvement assumed power.

The President said investigators are currently analysing phone records, connections, and other technical data to identify the masterminds behind the attacks, adding that evidence must be re-established in court after years of suppression.

He said the Easter Attacks should have been investigated when memories and evidence were still fresh, but the process stalled due to political interference.

According to the President, key evidence was tampered with or destroyed, including cases where “pages were torn from books,” while nearly 500 CID officers were issued travel bans during the previous administration. Several senior investigators were removed, transferred, or jailed, including former CID Director Shani Abeysekara, he noted.

The President said the same pattern of interference had affected other high-profile cases such as the murders of Lasantha Wickrematunge, rugby player Wasim Thajudeen, and cartoonist Prageeth Ekneligoda, where investigations were launched many years after the incidents.

Despite the challenges, he expressed confidence that the current investigative teams would independently and professionally pursue the Easter Attack probe and bring the culprits before the law.

The Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department (CC&CRM) has issued a statement clarifying the circumstances surrounding its recent enforcement operations in Trincomalee, stressing that the incident stems from long-standing regulatory violations and has no connection to religious conflict.

According to the department, the action was prompted by multiple breaches of coastal regulations. These include the misuse of a temporary permit issued for a 127-square-foot structure, valid only until mid-2024, which had been used to operate an extensive commercial establishment far beyond the approved scope.

The CC&CRM further noted that both permanent and temporary constructions had been erected within the coastal reservation zone, contravening environmental standards and statutory requirements.

Following a court order directing the removal of the unauthorised structures, officials initiated enforcement. However, the department said a religious structure was abruptly placed at the demolition site in what appeared to be an attempt to obstruct the execution of the court directive.

Reaffirming its position, the CC&CRM stated that all actions carried out in Trincomalee are based solely on court mandates and legal obligations, and not influenced by religious or communal considerations.

The removal by the police of a Buddha statue from a famous temple plunged Trincomalee into turmoil, on Sunday. The police stepped in amidst tension over an attempt by the Coast Conservation Department to take action against a building near the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Bodhiraja Vihara, in Trincomalee.

The monks of the temple and devotees staged a protest, claiming that they were restoring a Dhamma school building.

Subsequently, the police personnel removed a Buddha statue placed on the disputed site.

SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekera tried to raise the issue in Palriament on Monday, but he was not given an opportunity to speak. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa took up the issue, accusing the Speaker of having acted in a partisan manner and prevented MP Jayasekera from bringing a vital issue to the attention of the House.

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told the House that the Buddha statue had been removed for its safety and it had been returned to the temple yesterday morning under police protection.

Wijepala said the police had removed the statue after receiving information about possible vandalism, prompting the overnight removal of the statue from the Dhamma school premises. It was returned to the site yesterday morning. He said police had been instructed to maintain calm and enforce a special security plan from today to ensure the statue’s safety.

Minister Wijepala said further action would be taken according to the decision in a court case.

Wijepala said that the Coast Conservation Department had lodged a complaint about an alleged illegal restaurant operating in the same area. The police, he said, would proceed with legal action once a court directive was issued.

The Minister’s explanation drew sharp criticism from Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, who accused him of capitulating to nationalist pressure. In a post on X, the MP described the Minister’s justification as a “major U-turn,” arguing that the Tamil community had never targeted places of worship, even during the decades-long conflict.

A video, circulating on social media, shows a Buddhist monk insisting the site is of religious heritage value. However, officials note that the land was under the Coast Conservation Department, which had previously flagged unauthorised activity there.

The Minister said that the situation was under control, with enhanced security measures now in place ahead of the statue’s reinstallation. “Further actions would be taken on the basis of court decisions,” he said.