The Hindu : `Help set up Hindu religious society'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 28, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

`Help set up Hindu religious society'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI DEC. 27. The Sri Lankan Minister for Hindu Religious Affairs, T. Maheswaran, today said he would seek the assistance of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, in the establishment of an Indo-Sri Lankan Hindu Religious Development Society.

``This society would not only foster friendship between the countries but strive hard to ameliorate the living conditions of Tamils living in Sri Lanka and more so in the strife-torn Jaffna town'', he told a press conference on Saturday.

The Minister, who came here at the invitation of the Kanchi Sankaracharya to attend a Mahabharatha conference, appealed to the Chief Minister to play a pivotal role in the protection of the rights of Tamils in the island nation.

``I am eager to meet Ms. Jayalalithaa personally and impress upon her the urgent need for the formation of the society''. He looked forward to the Chief Minister playing a more positive role.

He had requested the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremasinghe, to officially write to the Chief Minister and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister of Tamil Nadu.

There were nearly 4,000 temples in Jaffna district and many of these were severely damaged.

The Minister sought the cooperation and support of the industrialists, educationists and scholars to help in renovating the war-ravaged temples.

Welcoming the Tamil Nadu Government's law against forcible conversion, Mr. Maheswaran said he would spearhead a move in Sri Lankan Parliament for promulgating a similar law.

When reporters asked about ``misuse'' of the provisions of Prevention of Terrorist Act in the State, he said he would not offer his comment on the ``internal matters of Tamil Nadu.''

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