World Heritage site Jethawana Dagoba in danger

Develops cracks all around it

Jethawana Dagoba which is considered the largest edifice made of brick in the world in the Anuradhapura sacred area, has developed cracks on all sides of it.

These splits have spread from the ‘Devatha kotuwa’ to the area in the repository from the northern, southern and western sides.

When a top officer of the Central Cultural Fund was queried, he said that these splits in the repository of the present temple are worsening day by day, placing it in a very risky situation.

Jethawana Dagoba which is a creation of King Mahasen during 4th century B.C. , has been named by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a World Heritage site.

This Dagoba is considered to be one of the chief attractions of all the historic places, and is visited by local and foreign tourists. It had been abandoned and overrun by jungle since the 10th century A.D. However, during the beginning of the ‘80s decade, it was conserved by the Central Cultural Fund. It was opened to the locals and foreign visitors on May 15, 2009.

On enquiry from the chief incumbent about the splits on this dagoba, he said that he had advised the officers of the Jethawana project to keep him informed without delay if there were expansions of the damage.

However, Vidyajothi Gemunu de Silva an expert engineer as well as an advisor of the Jethawana Dagoba conservation process, after inspecting the developing cracks along with the officers attached to the Central Cultural Fund on February 7 had advised them to take steps to prevent water seeping into the repository through the cracks and to inform him if there was a further expansion of the cracks.