Prime Minister gives instructions for the conservation of sacred areas in North and East

Feb 11, Colombo: Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa instructed the officials including the Secretary to the Prime Minister and the Secretary to the Ministry of Buddha Sasana Religious and Cultural Affairs to take action to resolve the existing problems of the All Ceylon Sasanarakshaka Mandalaya.

The issues at the All Ceylon Sasanarakshaka Mandalaya were considered at a discussion held at Temple Trees yesterday (10).It was also decided at this discussion that the ceremony to present the Sannas Pathraya (Scroll) to make the Nagadeepa Rajamaha Viharaya a sacred place will be held in March.

Attention was also drawn to the holding of Dhamma School Flag Day, Dhamma School Day National Festival and Dhamma School Student Skills National Festival.

The Premier instructed the officials to seek the assistance of the District Secretaries for the distribution of Dhamma School books.

He reminded the relevant officials that the “Sivupasa Aid Program” launched during his tenure as President should continue to be active on behalf of the monks at temples in difficult areas.

Prime Minister Rajapaksa also emphasized the need to address the current problems of places of worship and archeological sites in the Northern and Eastern Provinces and to preserve antiquities, including their inscriptions, for future generations. Ven. Prof. Thumbulle Seelakkanda Thero and Ven. Mugunuwela Anuruddha Thero, representing the All Ceylon Sasanarakshaka Mandalaya, the General Secretary of the Asgiriya Maha Vihara Chapter of the Siyam Maha Nikaya Ven. Medagama Dhammananda Thero, Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Buddha Sasana Religious and Cultural Affairs Prof. Kapila Gunawardena, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Nishantha Weerasinghe and heads of several government institutions were also present on the occasion.