Renovation of Mihintale’s Mihindu Maha Seya commences

By Dayaratne Embogama - Anuradhapura

The proposed project to effect repairs to the Mihindu Maha Seya in Mihintale was inaugurated yesterday by Defence Secretary Major General(Retired) Kamal Gunaratne on the instructions of President Gotabaya Rajapakse. Chief Incumbent of the Mihinthala Rajamaha Vihara Ven. Walawahengunawewe Dhammarathana Thera had informed the President on the need to renovate it.

The Defence Secretary told the media that the project would be completed next October to commemorate the day of Arahant Mahinda’s passing away. He said the Sri Lanka Navy would provide labour for the project implemented under the government’s programme undertaken by the security forces and the Civil Defence Department to renovate all historic places of worship.

He said the ongoing Dighavapi Cheithiya renovation project would be completed in three years and the construction work of the Sandahiru seya , which is second only to the Ruwanweli seya would be completed by November this year.
Ven. Walawahengunawewe Dhammarathana Thera , Director General of Arhaeology Prof. Anura Mahatunga, Addl. Director General Prasanna B.Ratnayake, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugethenna, and several senior officials of the Civil Security Department were present on the occasion.