Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickremanayake yesterday said that both long-term and short-term measures have already been taken to prevent further cracks appearing in the square chamber of the Jethawanaramaya Stupa in Anuradhapura.
The Minister who went on a tour of inspection of Jethawanaramaya Stupa said that the latest technologies have been adopted to protect the Stupa.
Archeological Director General Thusitha Mendis said that as per the reports of the Central Cultural Fund (CCF), there is no any noticeable extension of cracks that appeared previously and the CCF and the Department of Archeology are closely monitoring any progress of the cracks.
Member of the Committee appointed to monitor the Stupa, University of Peradeniya (UoP) Professor Kushan Wijesundara said that only 0.2 m progress of the crack have been noticed since 2023 and the progress of the crack from 2016-2020 was 12m and from 2020-2023 was 9m.
Committee member UoP Dr. K.D. Samith Buddhi said that the nature of the cracks could change according to the weather condition, while all the cracks have already been filled as a short-term measure and long-term measures are also being taken to prevent further extension of the cracks.
Jethawanaramaya Stupa is the third-tallest structure in the world, after the two great pyramids of Giza and Khafre, with a base area of 233,000 sq.m. (2,508,000 sq ft). It was built by King Mahasena of Anuradhapura (273–301).
Ishara Mudugamuwa