Anuradhapura Jethawana Chethiya to be restored

By Dayaratne Embgama  

Jethawana Chethiya in Anuradhapura that developed cracks recently is to be restored under a project launched by the Central Cultural Project, a senior official of the CCF said.

He said the cracks had been expanding in the direction of North, South and the West.   

The Chethiya built by King Mahasen (271- 298 AD) during the Anuradhapura era, had been left to the mercy of the jungle until it was restored by the Central Cultural Fund in the early 1980. It was declared open after completing the project in 2009. The Chethawanarama Chethiya  was declared a world heritage by the UNESCO.   

Chief Incumbent of the Jethawanarama temple Ven.Ihala Halmillewe Rathanasara Thera was of opinion that the cracks that might have surfaced while attending to the dilapidated areas of the Chethiya during the conservation project, would not be detrimental to its age old existence.