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| Tuesday, 25 March 2003 |
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Politics | |
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| Unity prime factor to uplift villages - Minister Gunawardena by Hanwella group correspondent The Minister of Rural Economy and Deputy Finance Minister Bandula Gunawardena said that power-hungry politicians divided villages, hindering the country's progress in order to achieve their political goals. He was addressing a ceremony held recently in connection with the depositing of 'Nidan Vasthu' in the 75-feet-high Buddha Statue, being built at Embulgama Rajamaha Viharaya in Hanwella. He said from time immemorial our villagers got their needs fulfilled on Sramadana basis with a sense of unity, adhering to the principles of Buddhist Philosophy. But that unity is no more in villages, he said. Whether we build a temple, Buddha statue, set up an industry or trade centre people are used to look at them from a narrow political angle, as their thoughts have been diverted to different directions by politicians whose sole aim is to capture the country's ruling power, he said. He said that unity is a prime factor to uplift villages. The Minister said that an action plan is under way to restore places of religious and historical importance of the area, with a view to attract tourists, which would enable the villagers to earn an income by selling their products. The Embulgama Rajamaha Viharaya and Imbulakanda Viharaya, a place of scenic beauty has been selected for restoration, under the guidance of Venerable Madowita Pannakitti Thera, he said. He also said that action has been taken to make Homagama, the most developed and exemplary electorate by year 2010. Already Meegoda in Homagama has become the 'Wakeful City' of the Western Province, because of the setting up of the economic centre, he said. Puravidya Chakravarthi Venerable Ellawala Medhananda Thera said that Ambiligrama or Ambillagrama referred to in ancient Sanskrit and Pali chronicles is supposed to be Embulgama. He said that according to a stone slab inscription found at Samanabedda Rajamaha Viharaya, a Minister in Charge of Seethawake during the reign of King Vasabha, had built a number of cave temples in the Kelani Valley, which had been totally destroyed by Portuguese, Dutch and British invasions, he said. He thanked Minister Gunawardena for taking action to restore them in order to uphold the area's religious, historical and cultural heritage. The Thera said that the Embulgama Buddha statue, depicting the "Purisadhamma Sarathi" virtue of Lord Buddha would be a masterpiece of sculpture, when completed. |
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