Maha Bodhi Society To Pay Tribute To Siri Devamitta Dharmapala This January

On January 5, a statue of Siri Devamitta Dharmapala, who sacrificed his life for the perpetuation of Buddhism will be unveiled at the Maligakanda Maha Bodhi Agrashravaka Maha Vihara premises. On the same day, the public will be able to witness a display of relics of Buddha’s two Chief disciples Sariputta and Moggallana from 9.00 am to 6.30 pm.   
In his comments, Ven. Ambulugala Sumangala Thera opined that the relics will be on display following a long hiatus. 

Since the 11th Century, the ruins of Sanchi Stupas constructed by Emperor Ashoka remained hidden in the surrounding forest reserves for centuries. It was in 1818 that General Henry Taylor discovered these ruins for the first time. Subsequently, General Alexander Cunningham and Lieutenant Charles Maisey made the first formal excavation of Sānchi and discovered the relics attributed to Buddha’s two chief disciples, in 1851. In 1853, these relics were sent to the Victoria-Albert Museum in England. 

As a result of a long fought battle by the Maha Bodhi Society and Buddhist leaders across the world, Mr. Daya Hewawitharana, a representative of the Maha Bodhi society was able to retrieve the relics from the museum in England on February 27, 1947. Following a month’s voyage aboard the Orion ship, the relics safely reached Sri Lankan waters on March 14. A massive crowd gathered at the Colombo National Museum to witness the relics on display, reminisced Sri Lanka Maha Bodhi Society President, Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thera. After two years the relics were sent to Sānchi via Calcutta to be displayed there. In 1951, a section of these relics were donated to Burma and another section of relics were sent to Sri Lanka in 1955. 

The relics were subsequently placed at the Maha Bodhi society premises. Once the relics were placed, the Temple had wanted to construct a separate temple to house the relics. But even though the then Crown Prince of Japan, Thakahitho Mikasha donated some funds, the constructions didn’t happen as expected. The task was then handed over to Ven. Hadigalle Pañnatissa Thera who built the Chetiyagiri Viharaya in Sānchi, said Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thera. The completed temple premises housing the relics of the Buddha’s chief disciples were declared open by then Governor William Gopallawa.
What is quite special about this event is that it coincides with the birthday of Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thera which falls on the same day.