Sri Lanka deplores attack on Mahabodhi temple

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa deplored the attack on the 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi temple in Bihar Sunday.

Nine near-coordinated explosions shook the serenity of the world-renowned Mahabodhi temple complex in Bodh Gaya early Sunday, injuring two monks but not causing much damage.

The temple is annually visited by millions of pilgrims from all over the world, especially from Sri Lanka, China, Japan and the Southeast Asia region. The temple complex has direct association with the Buddha (566-486 BC) as it was the place where he is believed to have attained enlightenment in 531 BC while seated under the Bodhi tree.

In a statement President Rajapaksa said following the bomb explosions at the Mahabodhi temple human beings of all faiths must hold hands together to root out any acts against religions and places of worship and veneration, Xinhua reported.

"Sri Lanka has undergone similar tragedies when the most venerated and sacred Temple of the Tooth and Sri Maha Bodhi were mercilessly attacked by terrorists, some years ago. Therefore, people and the Government of Sri Lanka will extend their fullest support to the people and the Government of India in this hour of great tragedy.

"We also wish speedy recovery to those who were injured due to these blasts and offer prayers for quick restoration of normalcy of this most venerated shrine in order that Buddhists and other pilgrims are able to perform their religious observances as in the past," the president said.

Several people were injured in the multiple-bomb explosions at the Buddhist temple which is frequented by pilgrims from around the world including Sri Lanka.

President Rajapaksa, who has visited the temple, said that acts of sabotage, destruction and vandalism against any religious place of worship must be totally condemned.

India's Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami said that the blasts were a terror attack.