Tamil Hindus are a minority in Sri Lanka but they are facing stiff challenges from other minority religions when it comes to freely practice their faith.
On Mahashivaratri, one of the prominent Tamil Hindu religious festivals, Tamil Hindus faced a harrowing time at Thiruketheechcharam Siva Temple, Mannar, Sri Lanka when hooligans descended on the site allegedly led by Catholic priest Marcus. Priest Marcus, who has his base in the Vankalai coastal village, came with some 100 odd people, comprising of both men and women, at 2 pm on the 3rd of March 2019 and objected to Tamils who were repainting the arch of the Temple.
Swami Vigyananand who is the Joint General Secretary of Vishva Hindu Parishad issued a statement on March 4th strongly condemning the ‘ cowardly vandalism’ in Mannar by Catholic Priest Marcus and said that this was done to ‘terrorize’ 200, 000 devotees from undertaking their pilgrimage.
Expressing its empathy and support VHP Joint General Secretary also said that it is totally unacceptable that weapons are being used on belief, faith, and worship.
Namta Gupta
