KAMALIKA PIERIS

The LTTE had a deep hatred of Buddhism and showed it in repeated attacks on temples, bhikkhus and   worshippers. The three high profile attacks were the Dalada Maligawa, Sri Maha Bodhi and Arantalawa.

LTTE wished to destroy Buddhist temples. The truck bomb attack on Dalada Maligawa in 1998 is well known. But the LTTE attacked the historic Somawati vihara in Polonnaruwa district in the 1980s. Somawati vihara is believed to have been built in the reign of Kavantissa and enshrines the right canine  tooth of the Buddha. Somawathi is therefore older than Ruwanwelisaya, Mirisawetiya  or Jetavanaramaya

 Somawathi vihara was attacked twice. The first was in 1985, the second in 1987. In 1987 the LTTE hacked to death one Bhikkhu and seven civilians.  The second shooting was done to discourage pilgrims coming to the temple on Esala Poya.  

There were other sporadic attacks. A bomb killed 23 and injured 70 at a Buddhist temple in Batticaloa during Vesak in 2000.  The bomb that exploded in an Anuradhapura-Kandy private bus at Dambulla in 2008 was to be exploded at Ruwanveliseya when a ‘pichchamal pujawa’ was in progress with thousands of devotees taking part in the ceremony.

LTTE also attacked Sri Lankan Buddhist temples abroad. In 2009 LTTE attacked Kingsbury Sri Saddhatissa International Buddhist centre in London at 3 a.m and smashed seven windows using bricks.  One of the CCTV cameras had been removed earlier. The Buddhist temple in Paris was also attacked in 2009 and LTTE was suspected to be behind it.  

LTTE killed bhikkhus. Kudakongaskada Wimalagnana,  Chief priest at Tantirimale gave support to the villagers when LTTE attacked.  He was like an unofficial division commander for the border villages in Anuradhapura, said Kamal Gunaratne. He was killed by a hand grenade inside the temple.

Ven. Kithalagama Sri Seelalankara, Dimbulagala hamuduruvo, was a remarkable bhikkhu. He was a pioneer in restoring the ancient Buddhist monastery Dimbulagala Raja Maha Vihara in the 1950s and was the chief incumbent of the monastery for almost four decades. On 12 June 1979, Seelalankara was appointed as the Chief Sanghanayaka of the North and East Tamankaduwa Provinces. In June 1967 he established Dimbulagala Maha Kashyapa Pirivena.

Dimbulagala Hamuduruvo was a fearless monk. He went to every village in border areas, helped the villagers and tried to ensure their protection, said Kamal Guneratne.  He established a village school with the Sinhala-speaking people in Sorawila, which later become Sorawila Maha Vidyalaya. He was ambushed and killed by LTTE on 26.5.1995 on his way to a farm belonging to the temple. (Continued)