MP M. A. Sumanthiran has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the commencement of excavations at the Kurundi Viharaya in Mullaitivu, the largest Buddhist shrine in the Northern Province.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister of State Vidura Wickremanayake and Commissioner General of Archeology Prof. Anura Manatunga have been named as respondents.
The petition is scheduled to be considered on the 23rd.
Although we tried to contact the Chief Incumbent of the temple, Ven. Galgamuwe Shanathabodhi Thero, our attempt failed.
Kurundi Temple is an excellent Pabbata temple complex which is located in the Nagachola Forest, Mullaitivu.
‘The Kurundi Atuwawa’, a leading ‘Atuwa’ on the Theravada Buddhist tradition, is believed to have been written by a monk who resided in this temple complex.
The Kurundi temple, the largest Buddhist shrine in the Northern Province, is reportedly under severe threat from extremists.