Ongoing restoration work of the Ruwanveli Maha Seya has been unjustly criticized now, said Anuradhapura Ruwenweli Chethiyaramadhipathi Ven. Pallegama Hemarathna Nayake Thera.
The Nayaka Thera said the people should not react against critics since their allegations are baseless.
The Ven Thera said the Maha Seya is white washed annually and occasionally, the pinnacle is serviced and it costs very much. The Ven. Thera added that renovation works are entrusted to recognised donors and philanthropists and experienced, dedicated workers.
The Thera said that the pinnacle of the Ruwanweliseya is about 80 years old and it needs restoration since it was observed recently that it was decaying.
“The Maha Vihara Maha Sangha headed by Atamasthanadhipathi Ven. Dr. Pallegama Siriniwasa Maha Nayaka Thera decided with the approval of the Archaeology Commissioner General to entrust the gold plating of the pinnacle, fixing new illumination system for the pinnacle and the updating its defective lightning conductor to the head of the Visva Parami and the Dhamma Parami Foundations, Prabath Nanayakara,” the Ven Hemarathna Nayake Thera said.
“He has fixed a specifically designed iron scaffold for us to climb to inspect the restoration work, and there has been an unwarranted criticism that the scaffold damages the stupa. It is said that an attempt was made to rob the relics deposited in the relic chamber, and the lightning conductor and to plant a duplicate crest gem (Chuda Manikkaya) amidst the ongoing restoration. But those are false,” the Thera said.
Rs. 140 million is spent by the Viswa Parami Foundation to plate pinnacle gold using 65 kg of gold and to renovate the summit of the Maha Seya. A special police platoon headed by an ASP is on duty round the clock at the Maha Seya, the Thera said.
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