Following Daily News expose:

Over Rs. 440,000 to renovate 1 st Sinhala- Buddhist school

Priyanka KURUGALA

The Archaeological Department will renovate Dodandoowa Piyarathana Vidyala, the first Sinhala Buddhist school, Deputy Director Maintenance Sunil Premasiri said.

Dilapidated building

The government has allocated Rs 440,000 and renovation will commence as early as possible, he said.

The Archaeological Department will reconstruct the first and oldest building in this site as the initial step, he said.

Rathgama, Dodandoowa villagers requested the government to maintain this school to mark the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi year and to vest the school in the state.

A roof in this school building collapsed recently. No one was injured, villagers said. The school's library was the best-equipped in the South once. However, due to the negligence of school authorities, most books gifted by Col Henry Steele Olcott are not in the library.

Only one student, W Chamishka Kavindu Shehara, passed the grade 5 scholarship last year. His mother A.W Thanuja Kumudu also requested the government to take action to rebuild the school.

Former Cultural Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath declared the school a national heritage on December 12, 2004, which was the birthday of the school's founder Ven Sri Piyaratana Tissa thera. After the religious debate, Panaduravadaya, Ven Dodandoowe Piyaratana Tissa thera administered pansil to Col Henry Steele Olcott.

A postal stamp valued at 60 cents was issued by the Postal Ministry on May 22, 1984 in honour of Ven Dodandoowe Piyaratana Tissa Thera.

Villagers led by retired Principal D D de S Rajakaruna and his son Amarajeewa, who are residents of Ratgama, requested the authorities to take action to protect the school for the future generation.