Atamasthanadhipathi and Chief Sanghanayaka of Nuwara Kalaviya Most Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera commended the efforts taken by the President to re-establish the Maha Viharaya. “As a leader who recognized the value of Anuradhapura, your efforts to re-establish the Maha Viharaya will be blessed by the Maha Sangha. Also, we express our appreciation for your desire to exchange Buddhist philosophy with other countries of the world as a center of Theravada Buddhism in accordance with the international relations that existed in history”, the Thera said.
The Thera said that former Prime Minister S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike gazetted and developed the Anuradhapura Sacred Site in 1948. “President J.R. Jayewardene along with the Central Cultural Fund worked to restore Jethavanaramaya and Abhayagiriya temples. But no one’s attention has been focused on other temple complexes of the Atamasthana,”the Thera said.
In the Anuradhapura Sacred Site Development Plan, it seems that no attention has been paid to Lankaramaya.Therefore, I remind the NPPD, the Department of Archeology, and the Central Cultural Fund to prepare a proper plan for the development of Lankaramaya within two weeks and include it in the Anuradhapura Sacred Site Development Plan. Otherwise, this
Anuradhapura Sacred Site Development Plan will basically fail. Also, I see it as a work of great national importance if a system of rules and regulations particular to this land can be prepared and gazetted to protect this sacred Anuradhapura city for the future. Adhikarana Sangha Nayake of Malwatte Chapter of Siam Nikaya for North Central Province and Incumbent of Lankarama Temple Venerable Pandit Ralapanawe Dhammajothi Thera said ‘When the President won the election in 2001 and became the Prime Minister, Most Ven.Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera brought a proposal to renovate the second golden fence (Ranveta) of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi.’
“We as Maha Sangha offer our blessings to the President on his accession as the Maha Viharaya on completing one year since assuming office as the President. When the President won the election in 2001 and became the Prime Minister, when he came to worship the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, our Atamasthanadhipathi Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera brought a proposal to renovate the second golden fence (Ranveta) of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi.
At that time, our current President, the then Prime Minister, said that he would appoint a Committee for this purpose. He named it as the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Development Committee.
The work commenced in 2002 under the Chairmanship of former Secretary to the Prime Minister K.H.J.Wijayadasa. A meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s Office that year.
The President continued to advocate for the development of the Maha Viharaya throughout those times as well. I commend him today for visiting the Maha Viharaya in his capacity as President and speaking with the authorities on the development of the Maha Viharaya.
According to the Maha Viharaya Development Plan, the proposed works will take two years to complete at a cost of an estimated Rs.555 million, Director General of Archeology Pradeepa Serasinghe stated.
Following this discussion, President Ranil Wickremesinghe also joined to observe some shrines connected to the Maha Vihara complex. The President first visited the Southern Stupa and afterward visited the Thuparama temple complex to observe the continuing excavation operations there as well.
Chancellor of the Rajarata University and incumbent of Ruwanweliseya Venerable Ethalawetunawewe Gnanathilake Thera, Incumbent of Abhayagiriya Temple Venerable Dr. Kalanchiye Rathanasiri Thera, Incumbent of Tuparamaya Temple Venerable Kahalle Gnaninda Thera, Incumbent of Mirisawetiya Temple Royal Pandit Venerable Dr. Welihene Sobhitha Thera, Ven. Godamune Pannaseeha Thera representing Abhayagiriya Project, Secretary of the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Somaratne Vidanapathirana, Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Land H. M. B. P. Herath, Secretary of the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing W.S. Sathyananda, Secretary of the Ministry of Irrigation U.D. C. Jayalal, Additional Secretary to the President Kamal Pushpakumara, North Central Province Chief Secretary Chandrasiri Bandara, Anuradhapura District Secretary J.M.J.K.Jayasundara, Director General of National Physical Planning Department, Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs, Director General of Central Cultural Fund, Land Commissioner General, Conservator General, Director General of Wildlife Conservation Department, Director General of Irrigation Department, Director General of Mahaweli Authority, Director General of Urban Development Authority, Director General of Road Development Authority, officials including North Central Province Land Commissioner, Nuwaragam Palatha Central Divisional Secretary, Urban Development Authority Provincial Director, Pooja Bhumi Development Director participated in this discussion.