NMRA imposes MRP for 350 drugs
The decision to remove the Buddha statue from the premises of the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Bodhiraja Viharaya in Trincomalee was taken as a precautionary measure, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala has said.
Speaking in Parliament today (Nov. 17), he said that police officers had decided to remove the statue after receiving information that it might be damaged.
Sumanthiran calls for resignations
Meanwhile, the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) has called on all Tamil members of the National Peoples’ Power (NPP), including Trincomalee MP and Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra, to resign immediately over the government’s response.
On a X post, ITAK General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran responded to the minister’s statement in parliament, saying, “The ITAK is utterly dismayed by the conduct of the government and public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala for tamely giving into the undue pressures of the majoritarian forces.”
All their rhetoric of treating all the peoples equally, fell flat on its face when the Minister unashamedly announced in Parliament that the statue was removed due to security concerns(!!!) and that it will be reinstalled today. The NPP government stands exposed as a racist, Sinhala Buddhist nationalist force, no different to any other government in the past. All Tamil members of the NPP including Trincomalee MP and deputy minister @arunhema19 must resign forthwith,” he added.
The ITAK is utterly dismayed by the conduct of the government and public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala for tamely giving into the undue pressures of the majoritarian forces. Last night when the Police removed the illegally installed statue on the Trincomalee beach on the…— M A Sumanthiran (@MASumanthiran) November 17, 2025
The incident
A heated situation arose last night (Nov. 16) when police officers took steps to remove a Buddha statue that had been placed on the premises of the temple premises,
The temple was registered with the Department of Buddhist Affairs in 1951, and the Dhamma school at the premises was destroyed in the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.
However, the Chief Incumbent – Ven. Trincomalee Kalyanawamsathissa Thero, together with devotees, had decided to recommence its activities and a foundation-laying ceremony was held last morning with plans to place a Buddha statue at the site, later in the day.
However, police informed the Chief Incumbent that the Department of Coast Conservation had lodged a complaint stating that the construction was unauthorized.
In this backdrop, police had removed the Buddha statue from the premises last night, which led to protests from monks as well as local residents.
According to reports, the Chief Incumbent and another monk are currently receiving treatment in hospital, claiming they were injured during the incident.
