The welfare association affiliated to Mayurapathi Sri Badrakali Amman Kovil at Kirulapone in Colombo has become a complete money business with the aid of deceived politicians and state officials, ‘Sathhanda’ reports.
It is this association which organizes a dinner at King’s Court, Cinnamon Lake Hotel in aid of the armed forces on August 10.
Defence secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi will be the chief guest, and commanders of the three armed forces and the IGP have been invited to attend as special guests.
In addition, invitations have been sent to several government politicians.
Rs. 10,000 ticket
Anyone willing to attend could do so by buying a Rs. 10,000 ticket, and hundreds of businessmen have been told to take part, as they would be able on the occasion to build connections with heads of the armed forces.
Trustee of the Kovil T. Sundaralingam is using this opportunity to target personal gains, and he has already made the welfare association a money-earning business.
However, it was founded in the 1980s by senior customs officer Pon Vallipuram with the aim of uplifting Hindu culture and arts as well as education of children.
Sundaralingam used force to get appointed as the trustee with the aid of the previous Rajapaksa regime, after which the association has become a business for him.
Shiranthi, chief patron
During that period, chief patron of the Kovil was Shiranthi Rajapaksa, and it was common that various events were held there to promote the Rajapaksas.
A fortnight ago, its Vel event was held and on that night a special pooja took place for Namal Rajapaksa.
Sundaralingam has been able to build links with the present government too, and got president Maithripala Sirisena to donate a Land Reclamation Corporation owned land to build a new Kovil.
Chairman of the Corporation, Asela Iddawela, is a close relative of the defence secretary.
