The Ravana Balaya said today it would not permit the building of a shrine in memory of ‘Sita’ with funds from India unless a statue of ‘Ravana’- a mythological King of ancient Sri Lanka, was erected prior to the building of the shrine.

Speaking to Daily Mirror Online the movement’s convener Ven. Itthakande Saddhathissa Thero said they vehemently opposed any move to construct a shrine in memory of “Sita” while neglecting to gloryfy Ravana.

“No one can neglect the glory of Ravana. We don’t oppose any move to build a shrine in memory of Sita but that should only be done after erecting a statue of Ravana. If that does not happen we will not the building of any other shrine,” the monk said.

He denied that the organisation was racist or extremist and said it’s only goal was to protect the national heritage of the country.

Few days ago PTI quoted India’s Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as saying that necessary approvals have been obtained from the Sri Lankan government and Indian government for the construction of a temple dedicated to goddess Sita at Divurumpola in Sri Lanka, a place believed to be associated with Ramayana.(Hafeel Farisz-DM Online)