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Premier Modi pledges to study dispute over control of Buddha Gaya temple
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Premier Modi at Sri Maha Bodhiya last Sunday. With him was the Atamasthanadipathi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to look into a request made by the four Mahanayaka Theras to allow full Buddhist representation in the management of the Maha Bodhi Temple at Buddha Gaya in India when a letter signed by them was handed over to him during his visit to Anuradhapura last Sunday.
A two-month-long agitation campaign is going on in India by Buddhists, demanding full control of the Buddha Gaya Temple Management Committee currently comprising four Buddhists and four Hindus with the District Magistrate as the chairman.
The letter handed over to the Indian Premier by Atamasthanadhipathi Pallegama Hemarathana, the Viharadhipathi of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura, had been signed by the Mahanayaka of the Malwatte Chapter, the Most Ven. Thibbutuwawe Sri Sidhartha Sumangala Thera; the Mahanayaka of the Asgiri Chapter, the Most Ven. Wakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera; the Mahanayaka of the Amarapura Chapter, the Most Ven. Karagoda Uyangoda Thera; and the Mahanayaka of the Sri Ramanna Nikaya, the Most Ven. Makulewe Sri Wimala Thera.
The letter further notes the historic ties between Sri Lanka and Buddha Gaya and points out that these ties go back to the time of Emperor Ashoka.
A former Joint Secretary of the Maha Bodhi Society of India, Ven. Dr. K. Medhankara Thera, explained to Prime Minister Modi the historic campaign launched during British colonial times by Anagarika Dharmapala from Sri Lanka to obtain for the Buddhists the right to manage the site where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment.
Ven. Dr. Medhankara told the Sunday Times that Mr. Modi said he would go into the matter on his return and see how the matter could be addressed.
The Mahanayaka Theras, in their letter, acknowledge there are issues regarding religious sites throughout the world and stress the importance of resolving the issue in a peaceful manner.
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