Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

SANDAHIRU SEYA TREASURES DEPOSITED AMIDST RELIGIOUS BLESSINGS

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The depositing of treasures and sacred relics at the Sandahiru Stupa Square Chamber was held auspicious­ly amidst the religious blessings of the Maha Sanga at the Stupa premises in the sacred city of Anuradhapu­ra yesterday.

A large collection of precious artefacts and sacred relics offered by Ven. Maha Sanga and devotees around the country along with an engraved stone inscriptio­n depicting a comprehens­ive details of the Stupa with its dimensions, were deposited during the historic religious ceremony.

The driving force behind the project, Defence Secretary and the Chairperso­n of ‘Archaeolog­ical Heritage Management Presidenti­al Task Force’ for Eastern Province, Gen. Kamal Gunaratne (Rtd) offered a coffer containing the sacred relics to the Maha Sanga after arriving at the Square Chamber of the Maha Stupa.

Ven. Maha Sanga deposited all the relics and treasures accordingl­y while observing the religious proceeding­s during the occasion.

The three and a half-foot high crest-gem designed to be placed at the tip of the Conical Spire embedded with precious stones and gold was offered to Atamasthan­a Chief Prelate Ven. Dr. Pallegama Siriniwasa Thera by Mr. Arthur Senanayake, a devotee and a patron of the sacred constructi­on.

Defence Secretary Gen. Kamal Gunaratne was the chief guest of the occasion.

The treasures and the precious stone Chuda Manikya adorning the pinnacle of the Cheithiya were brought in a colourful procession to the venue of the ceremony.

Delivering the Anusasana, Chief Adikarana Sanghanaya­ka of the North and North Central Provinces and Chief Incumbent of the Lankaramay­a Ven. Ralapanawe Dhammajoti Thera said that building a Cheithiya as a mark of gratitude to the security forces, fulfilled a need of the hour.

He praised President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa for building a Cheithiya following the foot steps of the ancient kings.

Addressing the gathering, the Defence Secretary said the Cheithiya was a project funded by the Ranaviru fund for which the security forces provided free labour.

He pointed out that it would be reminiscen­t of the glory of the nation.

The Defence Secretary Gen. Kamal Gunaratne followed by the commanders of security forces and several politician­s placed treasures in the Cheithiya. The Maha Sangha including Chief Incumbent of the Anuradhapu­ra Atamasthan­a temples Ven. Pallegama Siriniwasa and Ven, Inamaluwe Sumangala Theras and several senior officials were present at the occasion.

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