Prelates implore President to maintain camps in North, East for security

Says development activities will be hampered if camps are removed

Asela KURULUWANSA Daily News 28 January 2023

The three Chief Incumbents sending a letter to the President has informed that it is appropriate to maintain the army camps in the vicinity of the temples in the Northern and Eastern provinces as they are for the security of those areas.

This letter has been issued under the signatures of three Mahanayakes Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera of the Malwatu Chapter, Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera of the Asgiri Chapter, Most Ven. Dodampahala Chandrasiri Thera  of the Sri Lanka Amarapura Chapter and Most Ven. Makulewe Wimala Thera of the Sri Lanka Ramagna Chapter.

In their letter, they have informed the President that it is appropriate to deploy the security forces personnel assigned to the security and development of Buddhist shrines of special historical importance in the North Eastern provinces as well as other provinces of the country as per the need.

Due to the terror situation that lasted for more than three decades, the Buddhist monks of those provinces sacrificed their lives to protect the historical Buddhist shrines in the northern and eastern provinces. The security forces have been doing a great job for the preservation and maintenance of the historical shrines in the North Eastern Province since then and till today by providing support to the monks who work in the temples.

Currently, there are no Buddhist villages located near Buddhist shrines in the North Eastern Province. Even though a very limited group of contributors work in the vicinity of some temples, many such people who are not rich enough to maintain and feed the temples are provided help by the Maha Sangha who resides in this area.

Also, in the past periods, special contributions were made by the three Armed Forces for the protection and development of temples of special historical importance in other provinces of the island. Withdrawal of security forces from these shrines will hamper development works. Therefore, it is advisable to deploy the security forces personnel assigned to the security and development of the Buddhist shrines of special historical importance in the North Eastern provinces as well as other provinces of the island as per the need of the situation.