President to unveil restored Jetawana Stupa today
Nimal WIJESINGHE -Anuradhapura Additional District
group correspondent
The historic Jetawana stupa in Anuradhapura conserved by the Central
Cultural Fund will be unveiled for the benefit of the public by
President Mahinda Rajapaksa today at 4.00 p.m.
The conservation work of the stupa, which is considered the largest
and tallest stupa made out of bricks, went on for nearly 28 years being
sponsored by the CCF. Jetawana chetiya, according to the “Mahawamsa” has
been constructed by King Mahasena the son of King Ghotabhaya and the
elder brother of King Jettatissa King Mahasena (276-303 BC) is credited
with the construction of a cluster of reservoirs such as Minneriya,
Kawudulu Wewa, Huruluwewa, Kanadara Wewa and several irrigation canals.
The chief incumbent of Jetavanarama temple Venerable Ihala Halmillewe
Rathanapala Nayaka thera said President Mahinda Rajapaksa was a devout
Buddhist showed a great interest in the progress of the Jetawana
Conservation Project when he was a Minister and later the Prime
Minister.
“Today is a red letter day for Sri Lanka as the President who gave
leadership to the war against the LTTE grace the occasion of offering
the conserved Jethavana Stupa to the World Buddhist Community”, the
Nayaka Thera said.
In the meantime President Rajapaksa, the Commanders of Army, Navy and
Air Force, Director General of Civil Defence Force, and the Inspector
General of Police will be honoured by the Maha Sangha of the ‘Maha
Vihara’.
They will also be honoured by Hindu, Islam and Catholic religious
dignitaries headed by Venerable Dr. Pallegama Sirinivasa Nayaka thera
the Atamasthanadhipathi simultaneously and by the people in the North
Central Province led by North Central Chief Minister Berty Premalal
Dissanayake at a grand felicitating ceremony held at the Sri Maha Bodhi
temple at 10.00 a.m. today. |