Arul Jayanthiran Offers to Build Thayiddy Vihara on Original Vihara Land, Calls for Return of People’s Lands

All Ceylon People’s Uprising Party Secretary General Arul Jayanthiran has stated that he is prepared to build the Thayiddy Vihara on land that originally belongs to the vihara, while urging authorities to return lands unlawfully acquired from local residents to their rightful owners.

Addressing a media briefing held today at the party’s head office in Jaffna, Jayanthiran clarified that neither he nor the people oppose the construction of a Buddhist vihara. He emphasized that public opposition is solely directed at the location where the structure has been built, alleging that ancestral lands of civilians were illegally taken over.

“We are ready to build the vihara on its original temple land. What the people demand is the return of their ancestral lands that were taken unlawfully,” he said.

He further criticized successive governments, including the current administration led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, for continuing to exploit ethnic divisions instead of introducing and enforcing legislation to prevent communal politics.

Jayanthiran also questioned the continued relevance of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), stating that there is no terrorist threat in the country at present. He asked why such a law, or a replacement for it, is necessary when the President can visit Jaffna and walk freely without fear or special security arrangements.

He accused the government of failing to deliver on promises made prior to coming to power, particularly regarding the Thissa Vihara issue, the Chemmani mass grave case, and the repeal of the PTA, noting that these issues have since faded from the government’s agenda.

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