Attack on Mahabodhi temple: move to mar relations [January 26 2011]

The Sri Lankan High Commission in India said attack on Maha Bodhi Society office in Chennai was a move to disrupt relations between India and Sri Lanka.

High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam who met the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu S. Malathi yesterday said Sri Lanka treated Indians, particularly Tamils, as friends but some extremist elements with sinister motives had launched the attack.

Four persons, including Vajira Thero, Chancellor of Sabaragamuwa University in Sri Lanka, were injured.

Over 120,000 pilgrims visit the 80-year-old Maha Bodhi Temple annually.

The Tamil Nadu Police has taken two suspects belong to the pro-LTTE gruop - Naam Tamizhar Iyakkam - into custody over the incident.