Bounden duty of all Buddhists to safeguard Buddhasasana, Maha Sangha - Buddhasasana Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake

Ratnasiri Wickremanayake Minister of Buddhasasana, Public Security, Law and Order and Deputy Minister of Defence paid tribute to Army Commander Major General Shantha Kottegoda, K.P.P. Pathirana the Deputy Inspector General of Police Western Province (South) and the Buddhists for introducing a new Joint Concept of completing the construction of the tallest Dagoba (145 ft.) in the Western Province.

The Army and the Police have set an example because this Dagoba when completed in 2006 is a great asset to the progress of Buddhasasana and Buddhist religious culture.

He was addressing a gathering of Police and Army officials and devotees with Maha Sangha present on Sunday to grace the occasion of depositing relics in the Devatha Kotuwa of the Dagoba under construction at the Panadura Sri Maha Viharaya since 1924.

Minister Wickremanayake said certain people say that constructions of buildings and sthupas are not necessary to promote and uplift the Buddhasasana but they do not know the value of our cultural heritage. Maha Sangha had fulfilled their obligations towards the Buddhasasana in Sri Lanka since the Buddhasasana was established in the country a 2500 years ago. He said it is the bounden duty of all Buddhists to safeguard the Buddhasasana and the Maha Sangha. It is necessary to construct new buildings and Dagoba in temple premises for the progress of Buddhasasana.

The Minister said the D.I.G. Western Province (South) pronounced that he with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Army Commander had introduced a new operation to conclude the construction work of the Dagoba at Sri Maha Vihara premises at Panadura because the partly constructed Dagoba at this temple is lying since 1924. So the Government as well as the Sri Lanka Army and Sri Lanka Police have given support to complete the partly constructed Dagoba at this temple before Vesak Full Moon day in 2006.

Minister Wickremanayake said it is the bounden duty of all of us to live in harmony and peace if we wanted to be good citizens, in our country following in the footsteps of Lord Buddha.

He further said he would provide assistance, in the near future, to the temple. He would not say how much. Major General Shantha Kottegoda the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army said the official duty of the Army was to safeguard the sovereignty, the public property, the Government and the people of the country, but while attending to the official duty the Army has come out to help people when they meet disasters like the tsunami, floods and other natural disasters in the country.

On the request to support the construction of Dagoba at Sri Maha Viharaya he has given necessary instructions to Major Meegahawatta, the Commanding Officer of the Panadura Army Camp of the Sri Lanka Engineering Corps help to complete the construction work. Today he is very happy that construction work is in progress.

K.P.P. Pathirana Deputy Inspector General Western Province (South) said one day he visited this temple and saw the partly constructed Dagoba. He met Major General Shantha Kottegoda the Army Commander and canvassed his support to conclude the construction work of the Dagoba. He extended his fullest support. Now the construction work is in progress.

Venerable N. Buddharakkitha Nayake Thera, of Sunethraramaya, Moratuwa said since the introduction of Buddhasasana in Sri Lanka the Maha Sangha safeguarded the country and the people. So the Buddhists must safeguard the Maha Sangha. There is no Buddhasasana without the Maha Sangha.

Ven. Pothupitiya Pannasekera Nayake Thera of Panadura Sri Maha Viharaya paid a tribute to all for helping to complete the partly constructed Dagoba. Ven. Thera assured that before the Vesak Full Moon day in 2006 the construction work would be completed.