16 December 2016 12:00 am
Altair, the property development that is transforming the Colombo 2 neighbourhood with its iconic twin-tower high-rise, has responded to the request of a leading Buddhist prelate to build a Hindu shrine at the intersection of Union Place and Sir James Peiris Mawatha at Kompanña Veediya as a service to the community.
The request, from the Ven. Galboda Gnanissara Thera, Chief Incumbent of Gangaramaya Temple, the monastic leader of Colombo Nawakorala, was to make the busy intersection which already has a Buddhist temple, a Catholic church and a mosque in close proximity to it, a symbol of inter-religious amity with the addition of a shrine at which Hindu devotees may venerate.
The 20-foot high shrine dedicated to Lord Ganesh was consecrated recently at a ceremony attended by Ven. Galboda Gnanissara Thera, Ven. Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thera, Shivasri Baskara Kurukkal of the Sri Muthu Vinayagar Swami Kovil, Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs Minister D. M. Swaminathan and the board of Altair led by Joint Chairman R.S. Goenka.
The shrine was constructed on the lines of typical Indian Hindu architecture on a portion of land belonging to the Gangaramaya temple.