Lankan CM visits Premananda Ashram

Sri Lankan Northern Province Chief Minister C V Vigneswaran today visited the ashram established by controversial self-styled godman Premananda near here.
Vigneswaran went around the ashram and enquired with the officials of the trust, managing it, about its functioning and their activities, police and ashram officials said.
He offered worship at the Lord Shiva temple constructed near the samadhi of Premananda and participated in a special pooja at the ashram, they said.
Sri Lanka born Premananda alias Premkumar had moved to India in 1984 with his followers to escape the civil war in his country then and established the ashram which provided shelter to orphans and destitutes.

A controversy arose in 1994, when a girl inmate of the ashram gave a police complaint that she was raped. Thereafter, murder charges were also made.
Premananda was sentenced to a double life term for charges of rape of minor girls and a murder. He died in 2011.
DSP Balaguru said elaborate security arrangements were made for the visit of the Sri Lankan dignitary.