New Tanthirimale museum scheduled to open in June

Priyanka KURUGALA

The National Heritage Ministry plans to open the new museum at Tanthirimale in June. The construction of the museum commenced to coincide with the Deyata Kirula national programme held in February, National Heritage Ministry Additional Secretary Vijitha Nanda Kumara said.

"Construction work is on schedule", Kumara said.

"The reclining Buddha statue which was damaged by treasure hunters has been restored at a cost of Rs. eight million', he said.

"Thanthirimale is a very important place in the country's Buddhist heritage. The reclining Buddha statue made out of stone and other Buddhist statues date back to 11 BC", he said. Kumara said that the reclining Buddhist statue is similar to the Buddha statue at Galviharaya, Polonnaruwa .

"The new museum is being built in place of the old one which is situated near the Tanthirimale archaeological site which is around 1,000 acres in extent", he said.