EXPRESSING strong resentment over the demolition of Goddess Bhadrakali Amman Temple at historically inhabited Tamil area of Dambulla in Sri Lanka by government forces, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on November 9 demanded immediate reconstruction and restoration of sanctity of the temple.
Sri Lankan Parliamentarian R Yogarajan and Dr N Kumar Guruparan appealed to the President of Sri Lanka Shri Mahinda Rajapakse to ensure the safety of the Temple. According to reports, when Government forces in civilian dress along with the monks went for demolition, the Temple Trustee Smt Lechhumi Ammah requested them to give time for performance of prescribed religious rites for the closure of the temple. But they did not pay heed to this reasonable request and went ahead with their demolition drive immediately on October 28, 2013 night.
“Vishwa Hindu Parishad is deeply distressed to hear news reports that Mother Goddess Bhadrakaali Amman Temple at the historically inhabited Tamil area of Dambulla in Sri Lanka has been completely demolished and uprooted by design. VHP strongly demands from the Sri Lankan Government authorities that immediate steps be taken to reconstruct and restore the sanctity of the temple,” VHP working president Dr Pravin Togadia said in a statement.
He said during the long civil war hundreds of Hindu temples have been demolished in Sri Lanka. Now the civil war is over. Even in this peace time we are hearing of destruction of Hindu temple which is very disturbing and provoking. “As both Hindus and Buddhists are brothers in dharma, we do not expect such offense and transgression from our Buddhist brethren committed on a Hindu place of worship. The message has gone all over the world that Hindu Temple has been demolished by Government forces along with Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka. We take serious note of this wrongdoing and request the Government of Sri Lanka to refrain from such sacrilege against Hindu places of worship and ensure that such acts are not repeated in future anywhere in the Island Nation, otherwise the Sri Lankan Government will be responsible if such acts invite counteractions by the Hindus,” Dr Togadia added.
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