Vanni District parliamentarian Thurairasa Ravikaran has condemned what he described as a “deliberate act of Tamil erasure” by the Sri Lankan Department of Archaeology, after new display boards falsely linking the Tamil heritage site of Kurunthurmalai to Buddhist history were installed earlier this month.
During a visit to Kurunthurmalai on 15 October 2025, Ravikaran inspected the controversial installations and accused the Department of Archaeology of fabricating historical narratives to justify Sinhala–Buddhist claims over Tamil ancestral lands in Thannimurippu, Mullaitivu.
He said the department had recently erected four display boards at the base, summit, and surrounding areas of the site, branding it the “Kurundi Archaeological Site” and linking it to stories from the Mahavamsa, the Sinhala–Buddhist chronicle often used to legitimise colonisation of Tamil regions.
“They have once again fabricated and displayed false histories,” said the lawmaker.
Ravikaran explained that Kurunthurmalai and the neighbouring Thannimurippu region have long been inhabited by Tamil families who traditionally worshipped Athishivan Aiyanar, the ancient deity whose shrine sits atop the hill. He said the site’s cultural and religious significance to Tamils predates any references made in the Mahavamsa and forms an integral part of the region’s historic identity.
He asserted that the Department of Archaeology in Sri Lanka continues to produce and promote fictionalised narratives favouring Buddhist majoritarianism, thereby contributing to a broader campaign of systematic Tamil erasure.
Ravikaran also noted that over 300 acres of Tamil-owned residential and agricultural lands surrounding Kurunthurmalai have been illegally fenced and occupied by the department without legitimate justification. He demanded the immediate release of the seized property and called for the resettlement of displaced Thannimurippu residents, who have yet to return to their ancestral homes.
“These are Tamil lands,” he said. “Our people have cultivated and lived here for generations. Fabricating history to legitimise land seizures is unacceptable.”
Ravikaran further condemned the Buddhist monk responsible for overseeing the illegal construction of the vihara at the site, accusing him of supporting encroachments and historical falsification in violation of court orders.
He concluded by pledging to raise the issue with relevant authorities and take all possible steps to counter such state-backed falsifications and encroachments.
Kurunthurmalai has long been at the centre of disputes over land and heritage in the Tamil North-East. Despite court injunctions, the Department of Archaeology and Sinhala Buddhist clergy have continued to expand the vihara with the backing of the military and police, a move Tamil leaders and civil society groups have denounced as part of an organised effort to alter the region’s demography and erase Tamil identity.
