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Sri Lankan Buddhists Protest Against Temple Demolition
Thousands of Sri Lankan Buddhists on Wednesday took to the streets in capital Colombo protesting against the demolition of a Buddhist temple, which the authorities said was an illegal structure.
The protestors blocked traffic near the site of the Bodiraja Viharaya temple which was built in 1922 in Punchi Borella area. They demanded that the authorities return a Buddha statue, a coconut oil lamp and a casket containing the relics of the Buddha.
The temple was flattened by bulldozers amid tight security overnight.
The temple violated urban development laws and the demolition was intended to make the capital beautiful, a government official said.
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