Pinkama to mark gold plating of Buddha statue mosaics

A pinkama to mark the gold plating (repainting) of the mosaics of the Buddha statue at the Wewurukannala Raja Maha Viharaya, Dickwella will be held on January 8 under the patronage of Viharadhipati Ven Dickwella Tissa Nayake Thera and Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahpperuma.

The Wewurukannala Raja Maha Viharaya's Buddha statue is 150 feet (100 cubit) in height and 14,850 square feet in size and considered the largest Buddha statue built under the temple construction industry since the Polonnaruwa period.

It was built in 1966 according to a concept of Ven Panditha Dickwelle Sri Wimalatissa Nayake Thera.

The statue has been built according to the Dhyana Mudra posture. The entire repainting exercise is estimated to cost nearly Rs 20 million.

Following the commencing of the repainting exercise, a series of pinkama will follow at the Viharaya for 119 consecutive days.

The repainted (gold plated) statue will be re-opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Vesak Poya day this year, said Nimal Weeratunga, Media Secretary, to Minister Alahapperuma in a press release yesterday.