By Vipula Wanigasekera –

Dr. Vipula Wanigasekera

In the Pāli canon, the Buddha taught: “Yo dhamman passathi, so man passathi” — “He who sees the Dhamma, sees me.” This is not merely a metaphysical statement; it is a call to clarity. The recent dispute in Trincomalee — over the removal and rapid reinstatement of a Buddha statue — demands precisely that kind of discernment rather than emotional or ethno-political agitation. On the night of 16 November 2025, police removed a Buddha statue from a makeshift shrine on Trincomalee’s Dutch Bay beachfront, citing security reasons and unresolved land concerns. Less than twelve hours later, the statue was reinstalled under a special police protection plan after pressure from nationalist clergy and lay groups. (Northeastern Monitor; Tamil Guardian; LNW Lanka News Web)

Photo credit: Shabeer Mohamed

Tamil political representatives condemned the reversal, arguing it reflected not vandalism threats but political expediency. They described it as a capitulation to Sinhala-Buddhist nationalist sentiment. Tamil Guardian M. A. Sumanthiran of ITAK went further, calling for the resignation of Tamil NPP MPs and accusing them of abandoning principles of equality. (Tamil Guardian)

At the centre of the dispute lies legality. Reports indicate that the monks who constructed the shrine had not obtained approvals from the Coastal Conservation Department (CCD), the municipal council, or the Urban Development Authority. Tamil Guardian; Northeastern Monitor. Media personnel and CCD officials who attempted to inspect the site were reportedly obstructed, and the land itself is said to be under a court order prohibiting development. (Northeastern Monitor; Tamil Guardian)

In this context, the speed with which the statue was reinstalled suggests that legal processes were overridden for political optics. Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala justified the reversal by citing a “possible threat of vandalism” and announced that the statue would receive permanent police protection. (LNW Lanka News Web; Tamil Guardian)
For critics, this was not a principled defence of heritage but a concession to nationalist pressure at the expense of due process.

This episode reopens older wounds. For many Tamils, Trincomalee symbolises long-standing concerns over Sinhalisation — including state-supported Buddhist  encroachments on historically Tamil areas. (Tamil Guardian). Thus, the incident raises a key question: can legal institutions protect minority communities when political will bends towards majoritarian sentiment?

Conversely, many Sinhala Buddhists view the removal as an attack on their heritage and a failure of the state to protect Buddhist identity. For them, the reinstatement is a symbolic reaffirmation of their place in the national narrative.

But this tug-of-war undermines the very teaching the Buddha offered: if we truly “see the Dhamma,” we do not turn symbols into weapons. Nor do we treat religious icons as tools in demographic contests. Where disputes arise, legal remedies must be sought over sentiments — an essential safeguard in a multi-ethnic society with a fragile history.

Sri Lanka has seen the consequences of acting on emotion rather than evidence. The campaign against Dr. Shafi — later proven baseless — stands as a reminder of how narratives can outrun truth. The tragic violence of 1983 remains another warning of how quickly communal tensions can escalate when fuelled by fear and grievance.

Yet it is equally important to acknowledge that, despite several subsequent attempts to recreate the conditions of 1983, the Sinhala Buddhist community has not responded with violence. This collective restraint reflects a societal maturity that must be recognised and strengthened if we are to prevent the past from repeating itself.

Yet a countercurrent offers hope. Many Buddhists today are gravitating towards supra-mundane teachings that emphasise non-attachment, compassion, and ethical clarity. The Buddha’s message was not one of siege, fear, or cultural conquest; it was one of inner freedom.

If the Trincomalee incident is to yield a positive outcome, it should be a renewed collective commitment — from leaders, clergy, and citizens — to look beyond symbols and into meaning. Upholding due process, seeking legal remedies rather than emotional confrontation, resisting misinformation, and choosing restraint over reaction are essential steps toward national healing. In doing so, we may honour the Buddha’s call: to see the Dhamma, and through it, to see ourselves.

*Writer is a format Diplomat, Head of Tourism Authority, Currently a lecturer in Business studies, Youtuber, Author and Reiki Healer

References

1. Trincomalee Buddha shrine controversy explained. Tamil Guardian, Nov 17, 2025.

2. Sinhala Buddhist monks illegally construct temple on Trincomalee beach. Tamil Guardian, Nov 16, 2025.

3. Illegal building at Trinco Buddhist shrine: officials and media harassed. Northeastern Monitor, Nov 16, 2025.

4. Trincomalee Temple Land Dispute Prompts Investigation. Newsfirst, Nov 17, 2025.

5. ‘Resign immediately’ – Sumanthiran slams Tamil NPP MPs over Trincomalee temple row. Tamil Guardian, Nov 17, 2025.

6. ‘You have betrayed the Tamils’ – Ponnambalam slams government over Buddha shrine in Trincomalee. Tamil Guardian, Nov 17, 2025.

7. Buddha statue installed with police protection in Trinco. Northeastern Monitor, Nov 17, 2025.