The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, I raise my Question under Standing Order 27(2) to the Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs.

¶ 02 The perception that Sri Lanka’s Department of Archaeology functions as a “Buddhist-only” institution is rooted in systemic practices and exclusionary actions on the ground.

¶ 03 Regarding the Koneswaram Temple, Thanthamalai Murugan Temple, the Nelkalmalai archaeological site in Kiran, the Kuchchaveli Divisional Secretariat coastal belt, Kurundurmalai, Vedukkunari Malai and Thaiyiddy, I seek clarifications:

¶ 04 1. Koneswaram Temple (Trincomalee): Is the Minister aware that 18 acres belonging to the Temple and 453 acres within Fort Frederick remain inaccessible to devotees due to Departmental obstruction, despite funding being available, while 58 unauthorized structures in the vicinity are permitted? The Department disallows even planting a banana tree inside temple land, yet allows illegal shops outside, largely run by majority community members.

¶ 05 2. Thanthamalai Murugan Temple: Are you aware that essential renovations and safety works are blocked due to archaeological designations, leaving structures at risk of collapse and even preventing the Ceylon Electricity Board from installing a replacement meter after the previous one burned?

¶ 06 3. Nelkalmalai (Kiran): Are you aware that on land designated as archaeological, a new Buddhist temple has been constructed under the guise of “restoration,” while long-standing Hindu shrines in the same district face severe restrictions? This is not restoration; it is reconstruction. Two laws seem to operate—one for Saiva temples and another for Buddhist viharas.

¶ 07 4. Kuchchaveli coastal belt (Trincomalee): Are you aware that about 38 new Buddhist temples are being erected along a 47-kilometre stretch where fewer than 500 Sinhalese Buddhist families reside—effectively one vihara for roughly every 10 Sinhala families—thus appearing aimed at altering the area’s demography?

¶ 08 5. Kurundurmalai (Mullaitivu): Are you aware that over 78 acres are obstructed, Tamil Hindu observances restricted, and Tamil fishermen barred from using the Kurundurkulam tank, while Sinhalese fishermen, with support from security forces, are allowed? Even breaking a coconut in worship is being obstructed.

¶ 09 6. Vavuniya and Jaffna: Are you aware that Vedukkunari Malai and Thaiyiddy face similar worship restrictions, and that an unauthorized construction on disputed private land in Thaiyiddy is proceeding under State protection? Yesterday’s Security Council discussion also raised that the Mayiliddy Kannikai Matha Church was demolished by military personnel, while an illegal vihara in Thaiyiddy is being regularized.

¶ 10 In light of the above: - On what legal or historical basis are these discriminatory actions permitted, and were affected local communities consulted? - What immediate steps will the Government take to restore access, remove biased restrictions, ensure equal religious rights, and halt actions that appear designed to alter ethnic demography?

¶ 11 Additionally, in Batticaloa District, Archaeology officers refuse to engage with the Divisional Secretary or Pradeshiya Sabha, enter sites with police as if “secret police,” and issue all circulars and gazettes only in Sinhala, which local officers cannot read. Please ensure communications are in Tamil and retain or appoint Tamil-speaking officers; do not transfer away the few Tamil-speaking officers from the district.