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Some Scarborough Buddhists are accusing the outlawed Tamil Tigers of setting their temple on fire for a second time, sending three monks fleeing to safety.
Toronto Police were scouring the Maha Vihara Buddhist Meditation Centre, a Sri Lankan temple on Kingston Rd. near Military Trail, yesterday for clues left by arsonists.
Police were called to the temple around 2:08 a.m. yesterday by a passing TTC bus driver who saw smoke and flames. A number of bottles containing a flammable liquid were found near the building, Police said.
Officers were talking to witnesses and retrieving footage from security cameras. They still don't have suspects or a motive for the $5,000 blaze.
The temple was set on fire last May, leaving $200,000 in damage. There were no arrests and it had only reopened in September.
"This could have been a lot worst," Const. Tony Vella said. "Someone could have been killed or injured."
Ben Seneviratne, vice-president of the Toronto Buddhist Centre, said the three monks were sleeping next door to the temple when they smelled smoke and bolted to safety.
He believes the building was targeted by the Tamil Tigers because it's the oldest temple in Toronto. It was established in 1978.
"There is a connection to the Tamil Tigers," he said. "Today they are celebrating the birthday of their leader."
Tamil Tiger founder and leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was killed last May and yesterday the Tigers honoured him in a heroes day celebration.
The Tigers are notorious for bombing Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka, he said.
Bandula Jayasekara, the consul general for Sri Lanka, said the attack will make the community stronger.
"This temple symbolizes our people in Canada," Jayasekara said.
David Poopalapillai, of the Canadian Tamil Congress, condemned the attack. "We don't know who did this and we and not going to speculate."