He also questioned why a Buddhist temple was needed for the area, as the vast majority of residents in Kokilai were Tamil Christians. Sri Tissapura Gunarathana Thera claims he has been threatned by a Provincial Councilor from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to stop developing the temple and to vacate the area. NewsChief Incumbent of the Sambodhi Vihara Temple in Kokilai, Mullaitivu, Ven. Mr. Raviharan though, maintained that the temple had been built on private land and hence should be removed. The Thera however, claims that he has a permit for the land on which the temple had been built, which had been issued by the Mullaitivu Divisional Secretary.

Source: Sunday Times August 10, 2016 05:26 UTC