Sixteen statues of Thiruvalluvar, the author of Tamil treatise on ethics 'Thirukkural', will be installed across Sri Lanka in the coming weeks, according to V. Radhakrishnan, State Minister of Education.
The statues would be kept at Mannar, Kilinochchi, Mullativu and Chavakachcheri (Jaffna), all in the northern province; Puttalam in the north west province; Colombo in the western province; Matale, Hatton and Nawalapitiya in the central province; and Rakwana (Sabaragamuwa), Kaddaiparichchan (Trincomalee), and Batticaloa and Thambiluvil (Ampara) in the Eastern province, among others.
Asked whether the installation of the statues would create any problems in light of the recent controversy at Haridwar in India, Mr. Radhakrishnan told The Hindu that it was precisely for this reason that he had taken everyone into confidence before making a move in this regard.
While the payment of certain taxes such as import duty had been waived for bringing in the statues from India, some other levies such as value added tax had been paid. Earlier, Mr. Radhakrishnan took part in an event to formally receive the statues, which, the Minister said, had been donated by the VGP International Tamil Association.
V. G. Santhosam, president of the association, said the statues had been donated to foster greater understanding betweenIndia and Sri Lanka. He also expressed the desire to develop an amusement park in Colombo or Batticaloa.
