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Buddhists oppose Lanka's plan to build temple to Ramayan heroes

A proposal to construct a religious tourist complex having the temples of Rama, Sita and Hanuman in the central hills of Sri Lanka, has been vehemently opposed by some Buddhist organisations.

The Buddhist Associations for the Prevention of Invasion by Mosques and Kovils (temples) recently held a protest meeting in which the speakers charged that such moves were "deterimental to the culture and Buddha Sasana of the country". They also accused the government of giving some 35 acres of land in the Sita Eliya area for the construction of a Rama kovil.

Secretary of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress Jagathseela Kulanthilaka said throughout history, those in posts of power have continued to betray the rights of the Sinhala Buddhist people of the country. ''This handover of land is such a betrayal of the rights of the future generations of the country. We have continued to sell the rights of the Sinhala Buddhists for the sake of more votes. This violation continues today and the Sinhala people are left helpless at the hands of these power-hungry politicians,'' the speakers said.

UNI

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