The depositing of the sacred relics and treasures at the historic Dighavapiya Chaitya took place today (14) with the participation of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The restoration work of Dighavapiya Chaitya, which is the fourth largest chaitya in Sri Lanka, was started in 2020 under the direction of the Ministry of Defence, and it is special that this is the last chaitya to be renovated among Solosmasthana.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe deposited the relics in the Dighavapiya Chaitya amidst ‘Seth Pirith’ by the Maha Sangha and at that time flowers were also sprayed by the air force while offering floral tributes.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe also offered the newly built Relics Shrine (Dhathu Mandiraya) where Sarvagna Dhatu and other relics were deposited and Refectory (Danasalava) to Maha Sangha.
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, General G.D.H. Kamal Gunaratne (Retd), commented on the occasion, highlighting the on-going restoration efforts of the Dighavapiya Chaitya and the Muhudu Maha Viharaya under the Presidential Task Force dedicated to safeguarding the Buddhist heritage of the Eastern Province.
He announced the establishment of the “Dighavapiya Trust Fund “, emphasizing its successful provisioning. Currently, the chaitya stands at a height of 62.3 feet, requiring 72,000 clay bricks to construct each inch of its structure. General Gunaratne praised the labour contributions and acknowledged the substantial support from the tri-forces and devotees alike.
Ven. Ankumbure Premawansa Thera, Deputy Chief Sanghanayake of the Malwathu Chapter; Ven. Mahaoya Sobitha Thera, Chief Incumbent of Dighavapiya Rajamaha Vihara and Trinikayika Maha Sangha; former President Mahinda Rajapaksa; Minister of Buddhist and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickramanayake; Member of Parliament D. Weerasinghe; Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayaka; Chief of the Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva; Army Commander Lt. Gen. Vikum Liyanage; Navy Commander Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera; Air Force Commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa; former Minister Daya Gamage; Archaeology Commissioner Prof. Thusitha Mandis; and many other dignitaries and devout attendees graced the event.
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