Historic kovil to be developed
At Thiruketheeswaram:
Irangika Range
The Government has taken measures to develop the historic, sacred
Thiruketheeswaram kovil in Mannar for the convenience of a large number
of devotees coming from both Sri Lanka and India.
Northern Province Governor Major General G.A.Chandrasiri said a plan
has already been drawn up to complete the development of infrastructure
facilities under the first phase before Maha Sivarathri day which falls
on March 13, 2010.
He said that the Government has allocated Rs.270 million for this
project. Accordingly, the main access road leading to the Kovil and
Palavi water tank situated by the side of the Kovil will be
reconstructed during the first phase.
He said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has declared Thirukethieswa-ram
Sacred City for Hindus. This was the first time an area where an ancient
Hindu Temple is located has been declared as the Sacred city in Sri
Lanka.
Since 1990, religious activities conducted at the kovil were badly
interrupted due to LTTE terrorist activities which became a major
obstacle for the improvement of the area. The Governor participating at
the progress review meeting on Thirukethees-waram kovil recently,
instructed the relevant officials to expedite the development work under
the first phase to facilitate the devotees attending the “Maha
Sivarathri Puja” which is expected to be conducted on a grand scale on
March 13.
He further said once the Thiruketheeswaram Temple and surrounding
roads were repaired and constructed, devotees coming to the
Thiruketheeswaram kovil will have easy access to it. |
