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Jayasingharama Viharaya :
Ancient frescoes in peril
Bandula Gunasekara and T.K. Ariyadasa Malimbada
Group Correspondent
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Frescoes facing destruction in the shrine room |
The ancient frescoes dating back to hundreds of years, belonging to
the Kandyan era in the shrine room of Jayasingharama Purana Viharaya at
Karaputugala, Kamburupitiya is facing destruction without proper
maintenance.
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The Dharma Mandiraya |
This Viharaya situated close to Kamburupitiya Town along the
Hakmana-Kamburupitiya main road is a famous place of worship of
matchless historical importance among the other ancient Viharayas in
Gangaboda Pattuwa North of the Matara District.
The Kamburupitiya Zonal office of the Archaeological Department has
conserved only few of the murals of this Viharaya in response to a
request made by the present Viharadhipathi Ven. Karaputugala Gunarathana
Thera, but the conservation activities have been stopped without a
notice according to Ven. Gunarathana Thera.
Among the frescoes there are numerous works pertaining to life of the
Buddha from birth to Parinirvana and other depicting various ‘Jathaka’
stories.
The former Viharadhipathis of the Viharaya late Ven. Karaputugala
Dhammakusala, Ven. Karaputugala Vajiragnana, Karaputugala Vipulasena and
Karaputugala Sirirathana Theras had done much for the development of
this Viharaya protecting its glorious splendour.
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The present Viharadhipathi Ven. Karaputugala Gunarathana
Thera |
Buddhist Organizations and Dayaka Sabha under the patronage of the
present Viharadhipathi Ven. Karaputugala Gunarathana Thera request the
authorities to take necessary steps to preserve the murals and statues.
He said that these historical wall paintings will be lost forever if
steps are not taken to preserve them even at this stage. |
