10 Saiva temples in Champoor on verge of collapse

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 December 2012, 23:28 GMT]
At least ten historic Saiva temples in Champoor area have become ruins due to military assault and failure of maintenance after the capture of Moothoor East by the Sri Lanka Army since 2006. The occupying SLA is refusing to allow the uprooted Saivites to conduct any religious activities in these temples, civil sources in Trincomalee said.

Champoor Pathirakaa'li Ampaa'l koayil, Champoor Aathi Paththirakaa'li Ampaa'l koayil, Champoor Arasadi Pi'l'laiyaar koayil, Champoor Nagathampiraan koayil, Koonith-theevu Padapathiraka'li Ampaa'l koayil, Choodaik-kudaa Maariyamman koayil, Koonith-theevu Katpaka-vinaayakar koayil, Kadatkaraich-cheanai Pi'l'laiyaar koayil, and Kadatkaraich-cheanai Paththiniyamman koayil are found in a state of collapse due to the lack of maintenance. All the above temples are several centuries old, civil sources said.

More than two thousand Tamil families were uprooted following the capture of four GS Divisions of Champoor area following the 2006 military operation.

Since then 1,224 uprooted families are sheltered in temporary huts at Ki'liveddi, Manatcheanai and Paddith-thidal.

The remaining uprooted families who were not given room in these tent huts are residing with their relatives and friends.