Conservation work on Abayagiri Stupa to be accelerated

Nimal Wijesinghe, Anuradhapura Additional District group correspondent

The conservation work on the Abayagiri Stupa one of the historic eight places of worship (Atamasthana) in the Anuradhapura sacred city will be accelerated.

The conserved Jetawana Stupa was offered to the Buddhist Community for religious performances by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on June 18.

The President after focussing his attention and concern over the fact that the Jetavana Conservation Project has taken 28 years for completion, instructed the Cultural Minister and Cental Cultural Fund officials to take steps to finish the Abayagiri Stupa restoration work in 2010.

Conservation work of the Stupa started in 1983 and stopped within a short period. The present ongoing conservation project was initiated in 1997.