Probe into Avukana Buddha statue robe incident

November 27, 2023 at 12:16 PM

A probe is to be launched into the recent incident where the Avukana Buddha statue had been adorned with a robe.

It was reported that Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickremanayake has ordered a systematic probe into the incident.

According to the Department of Archaeology, it is a punishable offence to alter the existing character of a statue of archaeological value.

The Avukana Buddha statue built during the Anuradhapura era has a special place among the “Standing Buddha Statues” in Sri Lanka and as per history, King Dhatusena created this statue in the 5th century A.D.

A probe has been ordered after pictures emerged on social media of a group attempting to adorn a robe on the Avukana Buddha statue which is worshipped by both local and foreign devotees. (NewsWire)