Mahiyangana declared sacred area

Uditha Kumarasinghe and Irangika Range

Chief Government Whip and Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardene told Parliament yesterday that Mahiyangana town has been declared as a sacred area and will be renovated on the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to mark 2600 years since The Buddha's first visit to the country.

The renovation and construction work will be carried out under a systematic plan," he noted.

He said shops and business establishments within the town area will also be renovated under this plan. The Minister was responding to the oral question raised by UNP MP Lakshman Senevirathna.

He further said the Government will not permit the construction of any unauthorised building in the area.