Buddha Sasana Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake has assured his Ministry's fullest support to raise the balance funds required to complete the work on the Kotmale Mahaweli Maha Seya.
He gave this assurance after inspecting the progress of the Kotmale Mahaweli Maha Seya at the request of River Basin Development and Raja Rata Development Minister Maithripala Sirisena.
Associated with the Minister at the inspection were Ven. Thispahe Jinananda Thera, Ven. Duhukeulle Gnanaratana Thera and Ven. Madanwala Somartanda Thera, who are members of the Organising Committee, Secretary Ministry of Buddha Sasana, B.A. Abeywickrema, Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs, W.W.D. Sunil, Chairman of the Operations Committee, Mahaweli Cultural Foundation Trust, H.B. Jayasekera, and Co-ordinating Secretary, Mahaweli Cultural Foundation Trust, R.B. Ekanayake, .
Engineer G.H. Padmasiri who outlined the work done during the past one year said that work on the "Hathareskotuwa" (Square structure on upper part of Dagoba) is 84 percent complete and the work on the Dewatha Kotuwa and Kothkerella are 60 percent complete. He said that they would require a further Rs. 25 million to complete the upper layers of the Dagoba, including the balance work on the Hathareskotuwa, Dewatha Kotuwa and Kothkerella. They have requested a donation of Rs. 20 million from the President's Fund and if these funds were received they could complete the work and have the pinnacle laying ceremony by end 2005.
Co-ordinating Secretary of the Foundation Trust R.B. Ekanayake said the construction work was being supervised by a Technical Committee including Dr. A.N.S. Kulasinghe. He said that, on their own they had launched many fund-raising programmes. However, the funds were insufficient to complete the work. The Mahaweli Minister has already addressed letters to the private sector for assistance.
Minister Wickramanayaka said he too would look into ways of raising funds and would evolve a scheme to raise funds with the help of the Armed Services and the Police. He would also discuss with the President and Prime Minister regarding the possibility of getting Government assistance.
The Minister said he was glad to be associated with such a National endeavour and directed all concerned to continue the ongoing work.
Ven. Thispane Jinanada Nayaka Thera said they were glad that the President, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Buddha Sasana, Mahaweli Minister and the present Government were taking a great interest and he had no doubt that with their co-operation the balance work would be completed soon.
