Damaged N/E places of worship being rebuilt

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

* ‘Public can soon visit and worship historic temples’

* Deeghawaapiya, Neelagiriya Stupas to be preserved:

The demolished Buddhist temples and places of religious worship in the North and East are now being repaired, reconstructed and renovated by the government for benefit of the public. Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said on Saturday that a large number of Buddhist temples in the North and East that were dilapidated are now being rebuilt by the government.

“The public will be able to visit these historic temples soon to worship and make their religious offerings,” he said. Rajapaksa was speaking after declaring the area of the ancient Weherahena Poorwaramaya temple in Matara as a Sacred Zone on Saturday. “Unprecedented crowds had flocked to Anuradhapura from all corners of the country to participate in religious programmes on Poson Poya Day,” he said. “ The places of worship in the North and East will be repaired and handed over to the public for worship,” he added.

According to Archaeology Department Museum and Maintenance Director M A J R Madagammana , the Ministry of Defence has offered help to protect some of the temples that have vast historical and archaeological value. Madagammana said the Defense Ministry’s Civil Defence Force offered them support to preserve Deeghawaapiya and Neelagiriya stupas. “The ministry has also extended its assistance to the Archaeology Department to renovate Handagala Rajamaha Vihara and Halmillawatiya temples in the North Central Province, “he said.

The ministry has reportedly agreed to offer its support to build a Buddhist Centre on the Pachchanoor mountain near Muttur on the request of Ven Seruwila Saranakiththi Nayaka Thera.