Tamil and Muslim Communities Have No Issue Regarding the Buddha Statue: Ven. Kalyana Vansha Thissa Thero
20-Nov-2025.
The Tamil and Muslim communities living here have no connection to either the installation of the Buddha statue on the Trincomalee beach or its subsequent removal by the police. Particularly, the Tamil community did not express any opposition to the matter, which I say with happiness and sincerity.
The Tamils and Muslims here have always interacted with me in a friendly manner. However, it was the police who acted in a deplorable manner. Therefore, no one should distort the issue by portraying it as an ethnic conflict, said Ven. Kalyana Vansha Thissa Thero.
The Thero made these remarks at a press briefing held on November 19 to clarify the events that took place when the Buddha statue he installed on the Trincomalee beach was removed by the police and later restored the following day.
He further stated:
“A Dhamma school, the first in the district, has existed on the Trincomalee beach since 1952. The building was completely destroyed by the 2004 tsunami. It was never rebuilt. For a long time, we wished to reconstruct it. This month, according to the decision of our Vihara’s administration committee, it was resolved to rebuild the ruined structure. Accordingly, construction work began last Saturday. We carried out nothing in secret.
However, the Trincomalee Harbour Police halted the construction. Nevertheless, we proceeded with installing the Buddha statue and performing religious observances as planned. Contravening justice and the law, the police forcibly entered the premises and removed the revered statue. When I and Ven. Kassiyappa Thero attempted to prevent this, the police assaulted us.
As a result of our injuries, we were admitted to hospital and returned to the Vihara this morning. The matter is now before court. The Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court has issued an interim order.
We have been instructed not to undertake any further construction and to keep the premises as they are until the final decision is delivered. We respect the law and justice, and we believe we will receive justice.”
Several chief monks of major temples in the district were also present.
