The Sri Lanka Army has taken steps to grant permission for 07 kovils located in the high-security zone around Security Force Headquarters, Jaffna to conduct weekly pujas and religious activities.
According to this, civilians are allowed to offer weekly poojas in the temples of Kaduwan Muttumari Amman Kovil, Vasavilan Manampirai Kovil, Vasavilan Shivam Kovil, Vasavilan Naga Kovil, Palali Raja Rajeshwari Kovil, Palali Naga Thampilan Kovil, Palali Shakthiveli Murugan Kovil.
Earlier permission was given for monthly poojas and special poojas in those temples, but after considering the requests made by the temple trustees and civil organizations to allow weekly poojas, this permission was given to the civilians with the full intervention of the Security Forces Commander – Jaffna, Major General Chandana Wickramasinghe.
However, although the Thelippalai Divisional Secretariat had informed the Security Force Headquarters – Jaffna that 291 civilians would participate in the weekly puja that started last Friday (23), only 50 people participated.
Also, they had visited only four kovils namely Kadduan Muttumari Amman Kovil, Vasavilan Manampirai Kovil, Vasavilan Shivam Kovil and Vasavilan Naga Kovil.
The Sri Lankan Army had provided all the necessary facilities including health, transportation and sanitation to the people who gathered for the religious activities.
