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| Statue of Lord Robert Baden Powell |
The statue of the founder of the scout movement Lord Robert Baden Powell was vandalised while 29th Asia Pacific Region (APR) Scout Jamboree and the centenary celebrations of Sri Lanka scouting was held in Dambulla.
The statue of Mahatma Gandhi also became a victim of apparently an organised campaign of vandalism carried out early hours of Friday. Both statues were decapitated.
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| Statue of Mahatma Gandhi |
Two other statues that of Tamil Hindu Social reformer, Swami Vipulananthar and the poet Palavarmani Periyathambipillai have also been vandalized.
50 years
50 years
The statue of Mahathma Ghandhi erected over 50 years ago in honour of the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement.
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| Swami Vipulanandar |
The President of the Gandhian Movement in Batticaloa, Dr. A. Selvendran told BBC Sandeshaya that the statue was intact even during the war and it is sad that it happened when there is peace in the area.
Jamboree in Dambulla
“This probably may be an attempt to breach the peace,” he exclaimed.
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| Palavarmani Periyathambipillai |
Vivekanandan Pradeepan, the Commissioner of the Scout Movement in the Batticloa District talking to Sandeshaya from Dambulla where 29th Asia Pacific Region (APR) Scout Jamboree and the centenary celebrations of Sri Lanka scouting being held said that it is painful to hear that the statue of the father of the scout movement was vandalised while the jamboree celebrtions were taking place.
The Scout Jamboree held in Dambulla was inaugurated by President Mahinda Rajapaksha on the 1st of April.
