Desecration of Saiva temples in upcountry escalates

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 September 2010, 04:15 GMT]
The destruction and desecration of Saiva temples is reported to be on the increase in Kandy district. Since January this year about twenty Saiva temples have been plundered, desecrated and destroyed, Saiva community sources in the central province expressed serious concern.

Unidentified gangs of persons entered Saiva temples and stole money from tills, jewelleries from statues and damaged statues of gods and goddesses in these temples, according to complaints lodged with the respective police stations in Kandy, Galaha, Gampola and Pusellawa.

In Pusselawa alone eight Saiva temples were looted. Two Saiva temples in Galaha town in Kandy district were looted by unidentified gangs.

In Galaha upper division two Amman temples were destroyed and statues and other belongings of the temples stolen.

Saiva community organizations in the upcountry express serious concern over the failure of the police in arresting the culprits involved in the crime and the failure to ensure protection to Saiva temples even after complaints to the police.