Tamils in Thaiyiddy, Jaffna, once again took to the streets today demanding the removal of the Tissa Vihara, a Buddhist temple that has been illegally constructed in the Valikamam area.
The protest, part of an ongoing campaign held on every full moon day, saw participants carrying placards, raising slogans, and waving black flags in defiance. Demonstrators called for the immediate demolition of the vihara, which was established through illegal means and symbolises the continuing Buddhist colonisation of Tamil lands in the North-East.
Among those who joined the protest were Selvarajah Kajendren, General Secretary of the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF), Attorney Kandipan, local residents, and several other TNPF representatives.
Protesters accused the Sri Lankan authorities of turning a blind eye to repeated complaints and allowing the structure to remain despite court challenges and sustained local opposition.
The Buddhist temple in Thaiyiddy has been at the centre of controversy for several years. Locals and rights activists have condemned the construction as part of a wider state-backed effort to impose Sinhala-Buddhist symbols across the Tamil homeland, particularly in areas under heavy military occupation.
Since the end of the armed conflict in 2009, the Sri Lankan state and Buddhist clergy have accelerated the construction of viharas and statues across the North-East, often bypassing planning regulations and local consultation.
