Buddhangala forest monastery declared sacred area

Chamikara Weerasinghe

COLOMBO: The Buddhangala forest monastery of the Ampara District was declared a sacred area last week.

Urban Development and Sacred Areas Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena officially declared the sacred area last week at a ceremony at the monastery.

The monastery’s chief monk Ven. Dhammananda Nayaka Thera, Senasadhikari (the controller of the monastery) Ven. Dighawaapiye Susima Thera and Archaeological expert and authority Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera were present.

Gunawardena conferred a new pilgrims’ hall on the Maha Sangha on this occasion. The new structure has been built at a cost of Rs. six million.

Addressing the gathering, Gunawardena said on President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s initiative the Buddhangala forest monastery declared a sacred site.

“This was done on the Maha Sangha’s advice to the President,” he said.

President Rajapaksa had laid the foundation stone for the pilgrims hall at the inception of its construction. Gunawardena told the public of Digamadulla that not one would be allowed to sabotage water projects started in the area.

“We learn that there are some lurking behind these project activities with hopes to sabotage them. But there is no way we would let that happen and we will not retract from taking action against such elements,” he said.

Referring to the Rajagahathenna Water Project launched under his Ministry, the Minister said he learnt that this project has also been obstructed.

Plan Implementation Minister P. Dayaratna, former MP Wimalaweera Dissanayaka, Urban Development Minister Rohana Dissanayaka and Ampara Urban Council Chairman, Sarath Deshapriya also participated.