Keerthi Sri Thejowarama Raja Maha Vihayaraya at Pallawela, Mulatiyana, Hakmana to present sannas pathra

Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne says that there is a conspiracy going on in Western countries in the recent times to invade the developing Asian countries economically.

Under this conspiracy, plans are drawn up to make Sri Lanka once again a colonial country in which prevails pure Theravada Buddhism.

A ceremony under the patronage of Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne was held yesterday (13) at Keerthi Sri Thejowarama Raja Maha Vihayaraya at Pallawela, Mulatiyana, Hakmana to present sannas pathra making the said viharaya a sacred area.

This temple belongs to the Kandian era with a history running towards as past as  the year 1734 and  constructed in the king Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe’s time under the leadership of Ven. Ransegoda Dammaransi Thero. As per a proposal of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Buddhasasana & Religious Affairs D.M. Jayaratne, the Cabinet of Ministers unanimously agreed to declare this historic Raja Maha Viharaya as a sacred area and the sannas pathraya which depicts this declaration was presented to the Chief Incumbent of the temple with the participation of the large number of devotees in the temple.

The Prime Minister who unveiled the memorial plaque planted a ‘Na’ tree in the temple premises.

At this event commenced amidst the pirith chanting of the maha sangas the Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne expressed the following view and ideas.

"There are over 11,200 temples in the island. The government is unable to declare all the temples as sacred areas. After naming a Buddhist Centre as a sacred area, the intervention of the government for its development is enhanced. Instead of the development promoted by the Chief Incumbent of the temple and the dayaka sabhawa, its development process can be achieved through the sponsorship of the government.

During the Sri Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi time, an islandwide programme was implemented for the upliftment of temples. Under this programme, initiatives were taken to renovate many temples and to develop infrastructure facilities in association with the temples. Our government was able to develop many temples in the North & Eastern provinces which were destroyed in the war. It is noteworthy that the intervention of the government as well as the contribtion of the Buddhists of those areas was received to make this a success.

The Ministry of Buddhasasana & Religious Affairs and the Prime Minister's Office have designed an islandwide programme to collect information of every temple. Under this programme, information on the Buddhist programmes implemented during the 2600^th Buddha Jayanthi period as well as the details of temples are collected. I wish to publish a book including the details about the history of temples, lands, folklores, and also about the matters to learn about that temple.

The noble service now rendered by the Maha sanga was provided in the same way in the past as well. The king Dutugemunu was able to topple the rule of king Elara which lasted for six decades and to establish a new rule in the country under the able guidance of Maga sanga. In the same way, His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksha ended up the 30 year old war in order that the Sinhala Buddhist people be live harmoniously.

With the restoration of the peace in the country, we have been assigned the responsibility of developing the country according to modern ideas. The citizens in a developed country could lead a respectable life. However, we should not forget that we will be undergoing to enormous forces. We will be subjected to various pressures from Western countries, but we should not be worried over such pressures.

It is noteworthy that the western countries are trying to invade Sri Lanka which is a rapidly developing country in the Asia region. However, we should not become a colonial country of those countries which use Dollars and Pounds." He added.

Addressing the gatherings of this occasion, Minister of Skill Development &Youth Affairs Minister Dallas Alahapperuma expressed the following ideas.

''We made Thejowararama Raja Maha Viharaya, the temple in which we are staying here now  a sacred area after 72 years since we made Anuradhapura town a sacred area which took place in the year 1941. In fact we can be happy about this move. There are four sacred areas in Matara district only. The direct intervention of the government in the development activities of the temple can be obtained instead the attempts of the Chief Incumbent's and the dayaka sabhas for the development of that temple. The monks are taking lots of pains to protect the temple. We came to know recently about some monks who sacrificed even their lives to protect the properties of the temple. It is difficult for the maha sangas to appear for those disasters all the times. Due to this reason, the government tries to intervene into the development activities of the temple under the Sacred Area concept.

Ensuring the security of the temple only is not sufficient. That temple should be made a hub of knowledge. Our government possesses the ability to bring the new technology and modern knowledge to the temples'' he further added.

Minister of Investment Promotion Laxman Yapa Abegunawardena addressing the meeting stated the followings.

"We were lucky to declare this temple a sacred area. Most of the times we try to meet the requirements of the temple and to develop it. The contribution of HE the President for the revival of the Buddhism is priceless. The Temple Tree is always open for Maha sanga. The government has taken steps to develop 44 temples in Hakmana area and the construction of 22 temples is now over.

Maha Sanga including Adhiakarana Sanganayake of Matara and Hambatota districts and Chief Incumbent of Watagedera Pothgul Raja Maha Vihara Ven. Watagedera Revatha Thero, Chief Incumbent of Pallawela Thejowararama Raja Maha Vihara Ven. Welihene Sarananda Thero and Chairman, Pradeshiya Sabha Mulatiyana Sunil Elladeniya, Adll. District Secretary of Matara Mrs. Chandra Widanaarachchi, Director, sacred area Development Mr. P.B. Dissanayake, Lankadeepa chief editor Siri Ranasinghe and many other invitees too participated at this occasion.

February 14, 2013