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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.

A dispute over temple land in Trincomalee has sparked widespread discussion in Parliament and among the public, following the removal of a Buddha statue by police authorities.

The incident took place at the Sri Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi Bodhiraja Viharaya on Kotuwa Road, where monks and temple supporters had laid the foundation stone for a new Dhamma School building.

A Buddha statue was placed at the site shortly after the ceremony.

Police, acting on a complaint from the Coastal Conservation Department, arrived at the location citing unauthorized construction.

A tense exchange followed between the police and temple representatives, who claimed the land belonged to the temple and was legally documented.

The statue was temporarily taken to the Trincomalee Harbour Police Station and returned later that day.

The event has become a focal point for opposition parties, especially as they prepare for a major protest on November 21.

MP Roshan Akmeemana of the National People’s Power visited the site and was met with mixed reactions from the public.

At a media briefing, the Frontline Socialist Party offered its perspective, suggesting that the land had been inactive since the 2004 tsunami and was previously used for commercial purposes.

The party questioned the timing of the statue’s placement and warned against using religious symbols to assert land claims.

The party also expressed concern over attempts to politicize the issue ahead of upcoming rallies, emphasizing the need for transparency and lawful resolution.

The Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) has demanded the immediate resignation of all Tamil members of the National People’s Power (NPP), including Trincomalee District MP and Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra, following the government’s handling of a Buddha statue installation in Trincomalee.

A tense situation arose on Tuesday night when a group attempted to place a Buddha statue at a Dhamma school within a temple in the area. Police were deployed to defuse the situation, and the statue was subsequently removed on the instructions of Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala.

However, in an ‘X’ post, ITAK General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran accused the government of capitulating to “majoritarian pressures,” saying initial hopes that the statue’s removal signalled impartial governance were quickly dashed.

The party said Minister Wijepala’s announcement in Parliament—that the statue was taken down solely due to security concerns and would be reinstalled—exposed the administration’s true intentions.

“The NPP government stands exposed as a racist, Sinhala-Buddhist nationalist force, no different from those before it,” the statement said, adding that the minister’s remarks had undermined the government’s earlier pledges of equality.

ITAK said the NPP’s Tamil representatives could no longer remain in the government under such circumstances and urged them to resign immediately in protest.

In a significant step toward enhancing bilateral defence cooperation, the United States and Sri Lanka signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Ministry of Defence, marking a new era in Defence Partnership.

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung and Brigadier General Trenton Gibson, Adjutant General of the Montana National Guard, signed on behalf of the U.S. Government, while Secretary of Defence, Retired Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha signed on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka.

With this MOU, Sri Lanka has formally joined the global network of 115 nations partnered with U.S. state National Guards under the State Partnership Program.

The partnership will enhance interoperability through joint training, maritime cooperation to counter trafficking and illicit migration, crisis response and humanitarian assistance, aviation operations, and strengthened military – civilian disaster preparedness.

U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung underscored the importance of the US–Sri Lanka defence cooperation in her remarks and emphasized the deep and enduring friendship between the two nations, highlighting the significance of continued defence cooperation and mutual understanding.

She acknowledged the longstanding partnership built on shared values, expressing confidence that the renewed commitments would allow shared training and learning opportunities.

A high-level meeting to evaluate the progress of releasing privately owned lands in the Jaffna and Palali areas currently under military use took place at the Parliament Complex on Tuesday (11).

The meeting was jointly chaired by Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) and Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku.

According to a Ministry of Defence statement, the discussion was held to accelerate the government’s efforts in resolving land-related issues, a cornerstone of the national reconciliation process.

Key matters discussed included finalizing boundary re-alignments, expediting the compensation process, prioritizing land plots for release, and overcoming administrative bottlenecks.

The Chairpersons stressed the importance of a transparent and equitable process that ensures rightful land owners regain access to their property without compromising vital defence infrastructure.

Members of Parliament, the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Tri-Forces Commanders, the Inspector General of Police, and other senior officials from the defence and administrative sectors also took part in the session.