Friday, September 03, 2004
Mangala Maha Viharaya in Pothuvil vandalized says Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera
By Damitha Hemachandra
Mangala Maha Viharaya in Pothuvil with centuries old artifacts, statues and image houses is reportedly being destroyed by certain provincial politicians and villagers while officials of the Archaeology Department close their eyes and deny such actions said the celebrated historian and JHU leader, Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera. The Thera said there was historical evidence to indicate that the the temple was the original place of Queen Vihara Mahadevi's landing.
According to Ven. Medhananda Thera the temple had been built by King Kavanthissa to celebrate his marriage to Princess Devi, the daughter of King Kelanitissa.
" There had been no thorough archaeological survey and inspection of the area, although nearly 100 stone columns were unearthed nearly three decades back. Most of these columns had been transported out of the site and are been sold as artifacts" he said.
Situated in a site spreading over nearly 30 acres the temple had been declared a historical conservation site in 1965 and according to Jatika Sanga Sammelanaya (JSS) the temple had been the receiving end of 'planned sacrilege' since 1982.
Many statues had been destroyed by the habitants of the area while invaluable 'sandakadapahana' and Buddha statues too had been destroyed or been used for other uses.
"Although we have informed the Archaeological Department several times about the damage done to the site, the Archaeological officer in the area had denied such incidents through his reports," he said.
The Chief Incumbent of the temple, who had reportedly been long resisting the violence of the local politicians and villagers had fled since the security guard, who was appointed by the Archaeological Department also, had allegedly turned against him.
According to JSS a three - storey mosque had been built within the Archaeological Conservation Area, while a provincial politician had located five acres for himself and had distributed majority of the conservation land among the villagers.
The poverty stricken villagers in the area had been forced to pay money for the state owned land granted to them through forged deeds and many had used stone pillars, 'sandakadapahana' and other parts of the temple for construction of houses.
However Archaeological Department said that the appointed guard of the site had thrice informed them that most of these accusations are baseless.
"Whenever there had been such complaints we have requested the guardian at the Viharaya to investigate the matter he had denied such accusations thrice through his reports," Archaaeological Department official said
Mangala Maha Viharaya in Pothuvil with centuries old artifacts, statues and image houses is reportedly being destroyed by certain provincial politicians and villagers while officials of the Archaeology Department close their eyes and deny such actions said the celebrated historian and JHU leader, Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera. The Thera said there was historical evidence to indicate that the the temple was the original place of Queen Vihara Mahadevi's landing.
According to Ven. Medhananda Thera the temple had been built by King Kavanthissa to celebrate his marriage to Princess Devi, the daughter of King Kelanitissa.
" There had been no thorough archaeological survey and inspection of the area, although nearly 100 stone columns were unearthed nearly three decades back. Most of these columns had been transported out of the site and are been sold as artifacts" he said.
Situated in a site spreading over nearly 30 acres the temple had been declared a historical conservation site in 1965 and according to Jatika Sanga Sammelanaya (JSS) the temple had been the receiving end of 'planned sacrilege' since 1982.
Many statues had been destroyed by the habitants of the area while invaluable 'sandakadapahana' and Buddha statues too had been destroyed or been used for other uses.
"Although we have informed the Archaeological Department several times about the damage done to the site, the Archaeological officer in the area had denied such incidents through his reports," he said.
The Chief Incumbent of the temple, who had reportedly been long resisting the violence of the local politicians and villagers had fled since the security guard, who was appointed by the Archaeological Department also, had allegedly turned against him.
According to JSS a three - storey mosque had been built within the Archaeological Conservation Area, while a provincial politician had located five acres for himself and had distributed majority of the conservation land among the villagers.
The poverty stricken villagers in the area had been forced to pay money for the state owned land granted to them through forged deeds and many had used stone pillars, 'sandakadapahana' and other parts of the temple for construction of houses.
However Archaeological Department said that the appointed guard of the site had thrice informed them that most of these accusations are baseless.
"Whenever there had been such complaints we have requested the guardian at the Viharaya to investigate the matter he had denied such accusations thrice through his reports," Archaaeological Department official said
NCP, Uva, Southern areas to suffer worst crop failures
By Damitha Hemachandra
The North Central, Uva and deep South areas of the country is to suffer the worst agricultural failures since the last fifty years with only 4% of the total arable land being cultivated this Yala season due to the prevailing drought.
According to latest statistics released by the Departments of Agriculture and Irrigation, three million people in 14 out of 25 districts have been severely affected with nearly 158,000 families losing their livelihood and another 90,000 suffering from a dearth of drinking water.
According to the Irrigation Department statistics, the water levels of the 34 of the country's 58 main reservoirs and tanks are below 25% of their full capacity. The Parakrama Samudraya, which is already supporting 30,000 acres of paddy land, required immediate rain or 8,000 acre feet of water to keep these paddy lands alive.
The Minneriya Wewa too had provided water for only 55% of the paddy lands in the area, but the remaining water would be sufficient for only two releases according to the report. Meanwhile, the Department of Wildlife had decided to close the Yala Wildlife Sanctuary from September 1 and to keep the Bundala and Minneriya Wildlife parks closed for another one month.
The human-elephant conflict in the North Central Province had worsened with the prevailing drought, with elephants from Minneriya sanctuary ravaging villagers in search of water and food.
Meanwhile, the provincial authorities were complaining of severe shortage of funds for drought relief. Although the UPFA government approved the release of Rs. 659 million as disaster relief funds, provincial authorities pointed out that it was not adequate to meet the present demand.
According to Anuradhapura district officials, only 50 million had been allocated for the drought relief within the district although they require Rs. 230 million to meet the present demand for water and dry rations, while more funds were required for compensation.
The North Central, Uva and deep South areas of the country is to suffer the worst agricultural failures since the last fifty years with only 4% of the total arable land being cultivated this Yala season due to the prevailing drought.
According to latest statistics released by the Departments of Agriculture and Irrigation, three million people in 14 out of 25 districts have been severely affected with nearly 158,000 families losing their livelihood and another 90,000 suffering from a dearth of drinking water.
According to the Irrigation Department statistics, the water levels of the 34 of the country's 58 main reservoirs and tanks are below 25% of their full capacity. The Parakrama Samudraya, which is already supporting 30,000 acres of paddy land, required immediate rain or 8,000 acre feet of water to keep these paddy lands alive.
The Minneriya Wewa too had provided water for only 55% of the paddy lands in the area, but the remaining water would be sufficient for only two releases according to the report. Meanwhile, the Department of Wildlife had decided to close the Yala Wildlife Sanctuary from September 1 and to keep the Bundala and Minneriya Wildlife parks closed for another one month.
The human-elephant conflict in the North Central Province had worsened with the prevailing drought, with elephants from Minneriya sanctuary ravaging villagers in search of water and food.
Meanwhile, the provincial authorities were complaining of severe shortage of funds for drought relief. Although the UPFA government approved the release of Rs. 659 million as disaster relief funds, provincial authorities pointed out that it was not adequate to meet the present demand.
According to Anuradhapura district officials, only 50 million had been allocated for the drought relief within the district although they require Rs. 230 million to meet the present demand for water and dry rations, while more funds were required for compensation.
Welcome to My Den
I'm Damitha Hemachandra, a writer and a graphic artist. At the moment I work as a journalist for Daily Mirror and a creative executive for Bates Strategic Alliance.
You are Invited to roam my den and view my writing and graphics and welcome to leave comments.
You are Invited to roam my den and view my writing and graphics and welcome to leave comments.
