Protests in Jaffna over Buddha statue at Kadurugoda temple

Tamil residents in Jaffna have begun protesting against the installation of a Buddha statue at the Kadurugoda Buddhist temple, with opposition reported since October 31.

More than nine Hindu temples are located around the Kadurugoda temple, and trustees and devotees of those temples have joined the protest against the installation of the statue.

The opposition reportedly intensified to the point that Archaeology Department officials who had installed the statue were compelled to remove it from the site and take it elsewhere.

The Kadurugoda temple site has also been the subject of longstanding land disputes.

It is alleged that a considerable portion of land belonging to the temple has been occupied by residents living in the surrounding area, with houses constructed on some of the land.

The Archaeology Department has faced difficulties in taking legal action over the alleged encroachments.