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.