Archaeology, Arrogance, and Atrocity going beyond limits in Sri Lanka

Siva Parameswaran

Even government ministers in Sri Lanka are unable to stand before the ‘atrocities’ of the Archaeology department and that department has become the ‘superpower’ in the island nation.

Two government ministers-Douglas Devananda and Jeevan Thondaman has to cut a sorry figure after they were turned away by the archaeology department when they led a group of people to reinstall a ‘Sivalingam’ at Vedukkunarimalai in Vavuniya which was vandalized by ‘unknown’ persons a few days ago.

While the ministers say the reinstallation could not happen due to a court case, local Tamil people say it’s all hoodwinking and they are puppets manipulated by the Sinhala Buddhist monks backed by the department saying the place is what they claim to be a Buddhist archaeological site. Both the ministers say a decision would be taken after detailed talks with all concerned.

The desecration of the idols at the historic Sivan Kovil at Vedukkunarimalai has caused a deep sense of anguish among the war-affected Tamils, who have been victims of such continuous assault on their cultural and religious belief, culture, and heritage.

Among those idols desecrated at the place include a Sivalingam, Vairavar, Vinayagar, Balamurugan, and also other religious items used for prayers.

The temple authorities were in for a deep shock when they found their temple and idols were vandalized which has become a norm rather than an exception in the traditional Tamil homeland of North and East.

A complaint was subsequently made to the Nedunkeni Police and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, and this assault on religion was also brought to the notice of the President by these two ministers.

At the same time, a discussion was also held at the Vavuniya district secretariat with the participation of Hindu and Christian religious leaders. A decision was taken to reinstall the idols including the ‘holy Sivalingam’ at the same place.

Based on this agreed decision the temple authorities and devotees planned for the reinstallation of the idols at an auspicious time between 12 midnight and 3 Am on the 2nd of April. But the ‘super power’ department of archeology accused of ‘acting like a benami agent’ of Sinhala Buddhist monks used their political muscle power to not only stop the reinstallation but also ensured that three Tamils who went atop the hill to make the preliminary arrangements for the installation of the Sivalingam, were taken into custody. They were subsequently released after recording a statement.

Vavuniya residents and the Temple authorities on condition of anonymity say the three were local masons who were arranged by a local agent allegedly close to minister Douglas Devananda. However, this could not be independently verified.

Temple authorities also claim that both these ministers had assured not only them but also all concerned that ‘come what may ever’ the idols would be reinstalled atop the hill shrine. As such, the ministers along with their respective MPs Kulasingam Dhileepan (EPDP) and Maruthupandi Rameswaran (CWC) attempted to climb the hill only to be told by the police and archaeological department that no such idols could be installed since a case is pending in the Vauniya court and a decision is expected on the 10th of April.

‘A detailed discussion could be held after that date and a decision taken on this’ the ministers told the locals after their attempted reinstallation ended in a fiasco under the influence of the archeological department.

The Tamils say they feel betrayed by the ministers and their inability to stand up to their religious, and cultural rights which is being obstructed in a sinister way by the Buddhist Monks with the support of the archeological department.

‘We feel terribly let down and disappointed that the ministers could not only ensure the rights of the Tamil people but also stand exposed’ a member of the temple management told requesting that his name be withheld for fear of reprisal.

Both the ministers also faced flak when journalists questioned them about their said to be efforts in the reinstallation.

“Were you not aware that a court case was pending in this issue?”

Silence was the answer.

Vavuniya residents say the ministers could not even go atop the hill to the site of the desecrated temple but only go around the foothills of Vedukkanarimalai.

“This is terribly disappointing,” a local resident and a member of the Temple management said.

Temple authorities say a ‘unilateral decision by a few led to this chaos’

Armed police along with the Special Task Force personnel in large numbers were stationed at the foothills and the roads leading to it and the public who ventured to travel to the place were photographed and intimidated temple management says.

“The police threatened people and warned them of serious consequences if they attempt to climb atop the hill and involve in illegal activities”.

Clearly trying to reinstall vandalized idols at a historic temple and Tamils fighting for their religious and cultural rights, which have been declared as fundamental rights by the UN are “illegal activities” by the Sinhala majority administration.

The treachery tentacles of the Octopus Archaeological department in Sri Lanka is spreading far and wide in Sri Lanka in particular the traditional homeland of the Tamils-the North & East- war-affected Tamils allege.

After continuing brazen land grabbing in the North under the guise of an archaeological site and the said to be findings of Buddhist relics, the modus operandi of encircling land areas with the help of the state and installing a Buddha Statue, and constructing a makeshift Vihara has extended to the East now in pulmoddai.

Attempts were made there to fire upon unarmed Tamil speaking minorities by those who accompanied Buddhist monks attempting to grab lands belonging to the Tamil and Muslim people in the Pulmoddai Ponmalaikuda region under the Kuchaveli divisional secretariat area in Trincomalee district.

Locals have protested against the activities of Buddhist monks involved in the forced land-grabbing attempts in and around the Ponmalai hill area rounding up the lands belonging to the Tamils and Muslims and attempting to install Buddha statues and construct a Vihara there.

While the Tamils and Muslims were protesting against the attempts to grab their lands, they were intimidated by those who accompanied the monks by brandishing their pistols on the first of April.

Traditionally Tamils and Muslims have lived in Pulmoddai. Both communities have lands in the Ponmalaikuda highland which is surrounded by the villages of Kothaavaditivu, Ponmalaikuda, Arisi malai, and Shafa Nagar. They also have set up tents in the area for their business.

On the 30th of March, the Buddhist Monk of Pulmoddai Arisimalai- Panamure Tilakavansa thero went to that place along with the military and the officials of the archaeological department to usurp that place by installing a Buddha statue. The locals gathered and protested against such a move on the day and subsequently on 1st April.

The said monk’s brother Sampath who is also his driver trespassed into the private land of a pulmoddai farmer by cutting the fence and taking the vehicles inside. The local public gathered in support of the land owing farmer and protested against this trespassing and highhandedness of the monk and his associates.

As the protests began to gain strength the armed personnel of the Ministerial Security Division providing security to Panamure Tilakavansa thero brandished their pistols pointing at the protesters threatening them to shoot dead.

More than 30 people along with 15 military persons in civil dress accompanied by other Buddhist Monks with the planned intention of installing a Buddha statue at that place. As usual officials of the archaeological department were also present.

Land-owning local farmers have alleged for long that the supporters of the said monk would damage their crops time and often during the night. Moreover, they express concern that constant attempts are being made to evict them by intimidation.

Pulmoddai public also says the said monk Panamure Tilakavansa thero is continuously targeting the Tamil areas in Trincomalee and grabbing them with the tacit support of the army and archaeology department. As such efforts are on to evict the land owners from thousands of land pieces there claiming and identify them as Buddhist heritage sites, without the production of any valid legal, historic documents to prove their claims.