[1] The Maha Bodhi Society of India was founded by Anagarika Dharmapala in May 1891 under the objective of restoring the ancient Buddhist shrines at places such as Gaya and Sarnath.

The Chennai centre was established with the money borrowed from Sir Kent, in favour of the Maha Bodhi Society—Sri Lanka.

[2] Sri Lanka Maha Bodhi Centre is located at Kenneth lane opposite to Egmore Railway Station.

The temple has an 18-ft life-size statue of Lord Buddha in a standing posture (Abhya Mudra) in the main hall.

It was thought to be retaliation against the alleged killing of two Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy off the Tamil Nadu coast in the past two weeks.