PM grants Rs 25 million for Buddhist Conference Hall

Prime Minister D M Jayaratne who inspected the construction work on the proposed International Buddhist Conference Hall at the Peliyagoda Vidyalankara Pirivena handed over a cheque of Rs 25 million to Peliyagoda Vidyalankara Parivenadhipathi Ven Dr Welamitiyawe Kusaladhamma Nayaka Thera as part of the Rs 50 million set apart by the Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs Ministry towards the project this year.

The hall is built on the directions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Prime Minister who called on Ven Dr Kusaladhamma Nayaka Thera to hand over the cheque said his ministry would consider providing more funds in addition to the Rs 50 million pledged to expedite the conference hall. Ven Dr Kusaladhamma Thera said he highly appreciated the indefatigable services rendered by the Prime Minister for the cause of Buddhism.

The entire Maha Sangha was thankful to him for providing funds towards the conference hall project, he said. A press release by the Prime Minister's office said the proposed conference hall has a main auditorium with a 1,400 seating capacity in addition to a series of smaller meeting halls, reading rooms, hostel facilities and car parks in addition to other facilities.