Mullaitivu Magistrate S. Lenin Kumara has ordered that all construction work on the Gurukanda Purana Rajamaha Viharaya in Nayaru, Mullaitivu be stopped till February 12, 2019.

The Mullaitivu Police said they had deployed police personnel around the temple from this morning.

The police security was provided on a request made by the Incumbent of the Purana Viharaya Chief Incumbent the Ven. Colombo Medhalankarakiththi Thera.

The Magistrate gave this order after considering the petition filed by the Mullaitivu Police that a mob had forcibly entered the temple on January 14 and attempted to lay a foundation stone for the construction of a Kovil.

This case was postponed for February 12 and the Magistrate asked for a report issued by the Commissioner General of Archaeology and the relevant gazette notice on this date.

Ven. Medhalankarakiththi Thera said the Sacred Tooth Relic was brought to the place where present Nayaru Temple is situated.

“There are historic records with reference to this temple from 244 BC. There were about five dagobas here but they had been destroyed during the war,” the Thera said. He said he had come to the temple about eight years ago. (Romesh Madhushanka)