Congress govt in Madhya Pradesh announces plan to build ‘grand’ Sita temple in Sri Lanka

After the change of guard in December 2019, the Congress government claimed it did not find any file related to the proposed temple. A delegation led by Law and Religious Affairs Minister P C Sharma recently visited Sri Lanka and met the country’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Chief Minister Nath on Monday formally cleared the proposal. He said a committee of officials from the state and Sri Lanka, and members of Mahabodhi Society, will soon be formed to monitor the construction of the temple in a time-bound manner. Nath said money will be allocated in the current financial year.

He also said that land will be earmarked for building a Boudh Museum, a training and a study centre for disciples of Budhism at Sanchi in the state. He said many Japanese companies and organisations have offered monetary help for various construction activities in Sanchi, a major attraction for Buddhists.

Back in 2010, Chouhan had proposed the idea of building a grand temple at Divurumpola near Nuwara Eliya. In 2013, during then Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to Sanchi, he again expressed his government’s willingness to fund the temple’s construction.

In 2016, Chouhan said Rs 1 crore had been allotted and permissions had been taken from the Centre and the Sri Lankan government. The then BJP government said that a Bangalore-based firm had prepared a design and the construction of the temple was likely to cost between Rs 12 crore and Rs 14 crore.