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| Monday, 2 August 2004 |
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President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga yesterday said in Kandy that her Government which has realised the responsibility of protecting and nurturing the Buddha Sasana in the country will continue to help develop Buddhist Vihara's and Dagoba's for the development and sustenance of Buddha Sasana. Participating at the traditional function in Kandy following the completion of Esala Maha Perahera, the President said she herself, her Government and the people were fully committed to protect the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy and the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura, the two most sacred places which Sri Lanka Buddhists venerate. She said that those two sacred places, the Sri Lankan Buddhists believe, helped to protect the country and the people from various disasters on several occasions in history. At this traditional function, Diyawadana Nilame Neranjan Wijeyaratne handed over the traditional 'Sannas Patraya' carrying the message of the completion of Esala Perahera, to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. The President noted that the Esala Perahera began during the time of King Sri Kithsirimewan as Sri Lanka's main cultural event and thanked Diyawadana Nilame Neranjan Wijeyaratne and the Basnayake Nilames of the Devala's for conducting the Perahera in accordance with the accepted traditions. She also admired the service rendered by the Maha Sangha including the Maha Nayake thera's of the Malwatte and Asgiriya chapters for their consultations and advice to continue this traditional cultural show. The President said she had made arrangements to hand over land belonging to the Housing Development Authority to the Sri Dalada Maligawa in a special deed to facilitate the construction of a Buddhist Cultural Centre and Bikkhu centre in Pallekele. She also added that the Buddhasasana Ministry has already allocated Rs.130 million to facilitate the construction of these centres. The President also said arrangements are now being made on the instructions of the Buddhasasana Ministry to appoint a three member committee to report on the paying of compensation for the lands acquired from Viharas and Devalaya's and to settle land disputes with regard to the lands of Viharas and Devalaya's. President Kumaratunga also said considering the earlier request by the Diyavadana Nilame after the recommendations from the Governor of the Central Province, she made arrangements to open a Trust under the chairmanship of Central Province Governor Monty Gopallawa to conserve and protect Pitisara Devala's. Rs.3.2 million has already been provided from the Presidents Fund for this Trust, the President added. The President also said she will help start and maintain an elephant training centre after consultation with the Director of the Dehiwala Zoo, the Wild Life Director and with the Organisation of Elephant Owners to overcome the problem of the scarcity of elephants at the Perahera. She said on her request the Thai Government has already agreed to provide special training for mahouts in Sri Lanka on the handling of elephants. President Kumaratunga also presented awards to artistes who participated in the Esala Perahera. The awards were sponsored by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. |
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