Apr 22, Colombo: Sri Lanka Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne told media that the controversial Muslim mosque will be removed from the sacred Dambulla area and will be re-established outside.

The Masjid Al-Khair mosque is situated at Kandalama junction of Dambulla, the cultural town in the Matale District of Central Province.

Sinhala Buddhists led by chief incumbent of the ancient temple, Dambulla Raja Maha Vihara, protested the mosque in the sacred area and the Divisional Secretary of Dambulla has promised to remove the mosque since it had been an illegal construction.

Meanwhile, the police have ordered the removal of any illegal structures, including the places of worship of other religions from the sacred area before April 23.