Demonstration in the interest of a 1000-year-old Bodhi in Matara
People from several areas staged a demonstration at the Devinuwara Pradeshiya Sabha premises demanding protection for the 1000year- old Vijjammulla Bodhi at Aparekka in Matara, which had been a place of Buddhist worship for several generations. More than 200 people participated.
The protestors said that two parties were claiming ownership to the land where the Bodhi was located and that they are seeking a remedy through courts. They also said
The protestors wanted the Pradeshiya Sabha to protect the rights of the people who were the real owners of the Bodhi
that the Devinuwara Pradeshiya Sabha was a party to a partition court action, but that the present chairman ignored his responsibility to appear in court to watch the interest of the PS. The protestors wanted the chairman and senior officials of the Pradeshiya Sabha to protect the rights of the people who were the real owners of the Bodhi.
Meanwhile Provincial Council Member Kanchana Wijesekara and Devinuwara Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Sujeewa Wedage met the protestors and promised to protect the Bodhi and its land. “My predecessors had ignored the partition action and the relevant files are not available in office now. However, after going through the available documents I found that the Bodhi is located on land belonging to the PS. Therefore we have decided to file answer to support our claim, ”he said.
The protestors who accepted the PS chairman’s undertaking, dispersed peacefully.