An 88-foot Buddha statue newly constructed at the Nainativu Rajamaha Viharaya in Nainativu, Jaffna, was ceremonially unveiled this week, drawing large numbers of Sinhala Buddhist devotees from southern Sri Lanka.
Pilgrims arrived on the island carrying out Buddhist religious observances and rituals before first visiting the historic Nagapooshani Amman Temple, one of the most prominent Hindu temples in the North-East. Devotees later proceeded in a procession towards the Nainativu Rajamaha Viharaya where religious ceremonies and the official opening of the statue took place.
The development has sparked concern among Tamil residents and activists, who view the large-scale Buddhist construction projects emerging in the North-East as part of well-planned pattern of state-backed Sinhala Buddhist expansion into Tamil regions.
Critics argue that Nainativu has historically been identified primarily with the Nagapooshani Amman Temple and Tamil Hindu religious heritage, and say the scale and symbolism of the newly unveiled statue reflects growing attempts to reshape the island’s historical and demographic identity.
Similar concerns have previously been raised regarding Buddhist archaeological and religious projects in other parts of the North-East including in Thaiyiddy, where disputes emerged over land ownership, historical narratives, and the construction of Buddhist shrines in areas long inhabited by Tamils.
Tamil civil society groups have repeatedly accused successive Sri Lankan governments of facilitating cultural and religious encroachment through archaeology departments, military involvement, and state institutions.