On Wednesday, three Buddhist monks began a hunger strike in the ancient Sri Lankan city of Anuradhapura. They are demanding the withdrawal of a government development plan proposed for the sacred area of the region.
The monks are protesting against a gazette notification issued by the ‘National Physical Planning Department’ on February 27. This notification relates to an updated version of the ‘Anuradhapura Sacred Area Development Plan.’
Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the most significant Buddhist pilgrimage destinations in Sri Lanka. It is also a major tourist attraction, drawing a large number of visitors from both within the country and abroad.