THE FORMER Buddhist temple, adjacent to the perimeter of the old Mankulam Army camp, abandoned some twenty years ago during the height of LTTE terrorism, was re-established and recently re-opened with the support of Task Force 3 troops who re-captured Mankulam.
Governor for Northern Province Major General (rtd) G.A. Chandrasiri, Commander, Security Forces Kilinochchi Major General Chandana Rajaguru, District Secretary for Mullaittivu Ms Emelda Sukumar, Task Force 3 Commander Brigadier R.A. Nugera in the company of Division Commanders, Brigade Commanders, Commanding Officers, Police and Air Force representatives recently inaugurated a section of the Buddhist Temple with the arrival of a resident monk. Ven. Kamburawala Rathanapala Thera, Sangha Nayake for North and East under Kotte Chapter of the Sangha Sabha, who also took an interest in the re-opening of this temple, had been able to find Ven. Hingurukande Sumana Thera as the resident monk in this re-established temple.
A group of Buddhist monks accompanying the resident monk to the venue were offered alms after preliminary religious observances were observed during the induction. Atapirikara were also offered to the Maha Sangha. Hindu and Catholic clergy were also associated with the occasion.
Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army has given his blessings for the re-establishment of this temple under Kilinochchi Security Forces Headquarters.
The temple in the future will meet religious requirements of the Armed Forces, Police personnel and all others who go past the area, by offering religious blessings.
In the meantime, the Task Force 3 troops took measures to re-build and hand over a new Community Centre in Pannikkamkulam, Mankulam to the public. 632 Brigade troops provided labour to erect the community centre with local resources and funds provided by members of the Security Force Headquarters, Kilinochchi.
Commander, Security Forces Kilinochchi. Major General Rajaguru during a brief ceremony, held in accordance with Hindu traditions opened the Community Centre in the company of the Chief Priest, Rev Shanmugamdan Sudakar and several other local representatives.
On the same occasion, the Army distributed gift parcels among school students in the area.
The Community Centre will function as a place for village community gatherings and also for conduct of extra classes of the nearby school which is in a dilapidated state.
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