Our correspondents say that the Buddha statue that was taken away by the police from the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Bodhi Raja Viharaya in Trincomalee was brought back to the temple by the police today.
A tense situation arose yesterday when the police went to remove the Buddha statue. Two injured monks were hospitalized and a video clip of the incident was circulated on social media, drawing widespread attention to the incident.
Accordingly, following a discussion between the police and the Mahasangha today, an agreement was reached to measure, mark and allocate the forty perches of land that has not yet been specifically allocated for the sacred land deed. The political authority has also assured the monks that the plan will be approved and that no construction will be removed until that work is done.
Speaking in Parliament today, Minister of Internal Security Ananda Wijepala said that steps were taken to remove the Buddha statue for its safety.