• Seeks urgent probe into who ordered Police to remove Buddha statue, claim Constitutional violation, raise matter with Prez  
• Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Bodhiraja Viharaya CI files CA writ seeking prevention of demolition of portion of Temple; Trinco MC permits no new construction until 26 Nov. 
• Prez calls for Public Security Min. report, IGP has commenced a probe into alleged assault of monks and necessary action will be taken, Cab. Spokesperson says while defending Police action to prevent unrest and bloodshed, maintain peace, ensure safety of statue

The Amarapura Buddhist Sect stated that if the Government does not conduct an investigation and reveal who ordered the Police to remove the Buddha statue placed at the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Bodhiraja Viharaya in Trincomalee on 16 November of this year, they will initiate legal action against what they describe as a violation of the Constitutional provisions related to Buddhism.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the Secretary of the Amarapura Sect, Ven. Balapitiya Siri Seevali Thera said that they had also raised the matter with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, noting the available footage clearly shows the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Trincomalee arriving at the site and saying the statue would “definitely” be removed the following day – Monday (17).

“We saw the video. It shows the SSP in question coming and saying they will remove the statue the following day. We question how a Police officer can make such a decision. They don’t have the powers of magistrates. We need to know who gave this order to the SSP. That is a violation of Constitutional provisions related to Buddhism. If the Government does not look into this, we will take legal action,” he charged. 

Earlier, the Chief Prelate of the Amarapura Sect, Ven. Karagoda Uyangoda Maithri Murthy Thera, had sent a letter to the President regarding the incident. The letter stated the Viharaya, located on Fort Road, has been in existence since 1951 and is a duly registered Temple under the Buddhist Affairs Department, in accordance with the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance, as a Temple belonging to the said Sect. It further notes that in 2014, the ownership of the land on which the Temple stands was confirmed by a grant deed permit issued by the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the then Chief Incumbent (CI) of the Temple, Ven. Mihindupura Mahindawansa Tissa Thera on 6 June 2014.

Despite these facts, the letter stated the threats and challenges directed at the legally registered Temple and its resident monks – despite the land ownership being officially granted – have caused distress not only to the clergy but also to the Buddhist public. He also alleged that the events which took place on 16 November are condemned and rejected. The letter further questioned on whose instructions the Police acted when removing the Buddha statue from the Temple premises and assaulting the monks. It also stated that due to the assault, the CI of the Temple, Ven. Trincomalee Kalyanawamsathissa/Kalyanawansathissa Thera was hospitalised and therefore, the incident constitutes a blatant violation of Article 9 of the Constitution. The letter condemned this unlawful conduct by the Police and urged the President to immediately look into the matter. It requested the building which was reportedly earmarked for demolition not be removed and that the relevant authorities be informed to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of the Temple premises, the Temple itself, and the monks residing there.

Addressing the Parliament, President Dissanayake stated that he will call for a report from the Public Security Ministry Secretary on the Trincomalee incident. The President noted the authorities acted in a manner to prevent the escalation of the heated situation which arose on 16 November. President Dissanayake also noted that a number of discussions were held before the ensuing heated incident between Police officers and residents at the Viharaya. The President noted that necessary steps will be taken after reviewing the report of the Public Security Ministry. President Dissanayake also stressed that they will not allow anyone to create communal conflicts in the country. The President is of the view that certain factions are aiming to create unrest in the country by using isolated incidents.

A tense situation arose on the night of 16 November when Police officers removed a Buddha statue that had been placed within the premises of the said Viharaya. The Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Bodhiwardhana Dhamma School, which previously operated at the site, had been destroyed by the 2004 tsunami, and Kalyanawamsathissa/Kalyanawansathissa Thera, along with devotees, had recently decided to recommence its activities. A foundation-laying ceremony was held on the morning of 16 November, and by afternoon, arrangements were underway to place a Buddha statue at the location. However, the Police informed Kalyanawamsathissa/Kalyanawansathissa Thera that the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department had lodged a complaint stating the construction was unauthorised. Later that night, officers removed the statue from the premises, prompting protests and opposition from monks and local residents. Kalyanawamsathissa/Kalyanawansathissa Thera and another monk had been admitted for hospital treatment, claiming they were injured during the incident.

A writ petition has meanwhile been filed in the Court of Appeal (CA) requesting the issuance of an order to prevent the demolition of a portion of the Viharaya. The petition has been submitted by Kalyanawamsathissa/Kalyanawansathissa Thera. The Director General (DG) of the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department, the Environment Minister and the Environment Ministry Secretary have been named as respondents. The petition noted the Trincomalee Urban Council issued a letter stating there was no objection to the development of the portion of land belonging to the Temple. However, letters were issued by the DG of the Department of Coast Conservation on 18 July 2025 and 25 July 2025 instructing the demolition of a portion of the Temple, and the petitioner submitted an appeal to the Environment Ministry Secretary against this, the petition stated. However, the appeal was rejected by the said Secretary. The petitioner claimed that before rejecting the appeal, the said Secretary neither inquired about the matter nor sought the petitioner’s viewpoint. Through the writ petition, the petitioner argues that the construction in question does not violate any Coastal Conservation regulations and that the demolition order is entirely illegal, arbitrary and motivated by malice. Accordingly, the petitioner requested the CA to issue an order nullifying the letters issued by the Coast Conservation Department regarding the demolition of the Temple constructions and to grant a writ preventing these demolitions. Additionally, the petitioner requested that an interim injunction be issued to prevent the demolition until the final decision on the petition is reached.

Speaking in Parliament on Monday (17), Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said the statue was removed as a protective measure. He said the Police had received information suggesting the statue could be damaged, and the removal was carried out to prevent such an incident. Wijepala stated the Police took necessary action to ensure the safety of the statue.

The Police, issuing a statement in this regard, claimed that it observed a potential for tensions between communities arising from this incident. “Since the area concerned represents all communities, if any individual had intentionally damaged the Buddha statue, it could have seriously threatened peace and coexistence in the region. Therefore, the statue was safely removed from the site and handed over to the Trincomalee Harbour Police for safekeeping. During efforts by the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department to stop unauthorised constructions – based on a complaint submitted to the Harbour Police – a group that gathered at the site behaved aggressively. Police then took action to manage the situation and at no point did they assault the clergy or the public”.

The statue, which had been under Police protection, has on Monday afternoon been returned by the Police to the relevant clergy and the Temple committee for proper placement.

Meanwhile, if the Police committed any wrongdoing while removing a Buddha statue that had been placed at the Temple premises, an investigation will be conducted and necessary action will be taken, Cabinet Spokesperson, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated. Speaking at the weekly Cabinet of Ministers media briefing yesterday (18), Dr. Jayatissa noted there is a possibility of creating a distorted or misleading picture of what actually happened, when individuals start to question separate incidents of the full chain of events. He stressed that damaging a Buddha statue can lead to bloodshed in the country and that therefore, it is the responsibility of all citizens to not allow such situations to arise. Dr. Jayatissa said, “We don’t need new incidents. Don’t add fuel to the fire and make it worse.” He added the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has commenced an investigation regarding the alleged assaults by the Police on monks during the incident. Dr. Jayatissa further commented: “The Police exist to uphold the law and maintain peace. Under no circumstances will the Police allow any activity that violates the law or disturbs the peace, regardless of the incident. A short-term permit had been issued for constructing a temporary food stall with certain conditions. There is an order to remove that structure. It was during this time the Buddha statue was brought and placed there. Our country has a history that shows how far ethnic unrest can escalate when harm is done to a Buddha statue. Therefore, the Police acted to maintain peace in the area and to ensure the safety of the Buddha statue. The next hearing will be held on 26 November at the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court (MC). According to the facts reported by the Police, the Magistrate has ordered that all evidence be recorded, the authenticity of any documents submitted by any party be verified, and that no new construction be carried out until 26 November. The Police and the Special Task Force have been deployed to maintain peace in the area. An investigation has been launched by the IGP regarding the assault on the monks. The Government will not allow anyone to use this incident to open a pathway for their dream political journey. It will not allow those hoping to use this incident to build their political movement, gather people, or arrange buses for rallies. As a nation, we have already faced enough incidents that escalated into serious bloodshed. That is why the Police removed the Buddha statue. It has now been placed back at the location. The Government is waiting to see how the Court will proceed on 26 November.”

Meanwhile, ruling National People’s Power Parliamentarian Roshan Akmeemana, who visited the site on Monday, faced protests from the people present there.