Girihadu Seya lit up after 27 years
Devotees were able to visit the Dagoba for the first time after the peace accord with the LTTE was signed in 2002
After 27 years, the historic Dagoba – Girihadu Seya, which is more than 2600 years old, was illuminated for Poson Poya by the Power and Energy Ministry.
The historic temple located at Thiriyaya in Trincomalee remained cut off from the mainland during the war.
Devotees were able to visit the Dagoba for the first time after the peace accord with the LTTE was signed in 2002.
Girihadu Seya is considered as the first Dagoba in Sri Lanka. It is located in Thiriyaya close to TrincomaleePulmoddai road. After the Buddha spent seven weeks (Sath Sathiya), the two merchants –Thapassu and Balluka -- who are brothers offered alms to him and asked for sacred relics to be enshrined in a Dagoba. The Buddha gave them a lock of hair as sacred relics (Sacred Kesha Datu). History says that the two merchants
The minister atten- ded the function to mark the illumination of the historic site which was damaged due to terrorist activity in the area
travelled to Trincomalee and built the Girihadu Seya where they enshrined these scared relics.
Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka took steps to renovate the Dagoba and provide it with electricity. The minister attended the function to mark the illumination of the historic site which was damaged due to terrorist activity in the area.
He said in its development drive, the government would not discriminate anyone based on their caste, creed or ethnicity.