President wants speedy renovation of religious sites

Rasika Somarathna

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ordered the speedy renovation of religious sites of all faiths, throughout the country, allocating Rs. 103 million for this purpose.

In addition religious sites in Anuradhapura area are to be renovated with other infrastructure to ensure maximum facilities to the Pilgrims before the forthcoming Vesak Poya.

The President issued these directives presiding over the Progress evaluation meeting of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Cultural development.

The President drew special attention to the ongoing work to the renovation activities of religious sites in the North and East and ordered the relevant officials to take speedy action in this regard.

The Ministry has spent a sum of Rs.6 million to preserve the Hindu’s cultural heritages Shivaram Kovil and Mavattapuram Kandaswami Kovil. Another sum of Rs. 17 million has been allocated to develop Catholic’s sacred Church sites in Thalavila, Thewatta, Wahakotte and Hiniduma.

The President at the meeting held detailed discussions with all relevant officials over the last years progress and the projects which are in the pipeline, which will be implemented through the Departments of Buddhist, Hindu, Catholic Affairs and the Public Trustee Dept. which is under the ministry.

The Ministry has also initiated a programme to facilitate tours to Dambadiva and Mecca for Sri Lankan pilgrims, introducing special low rates for them through the newly initiated “Mihin Air”.

The discussion also focused on the progress of “Mathata Thitha” which was introduced to eradicate the menace of drug addiction from the rural areas.

It was also revealed that the Government has allocated a sum of Rs. 148 million in 2006 for the voluntary teachers programme who work in the Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu and Islamic Sunday schools and religious schools.

The Ministry officials informed the President that the Ministry has been able to almost complete the rehabilitation work of the religious places, which were destroyed or damaged due to the tsunami.

According to Ministry sources the focus would be to develop projects which enhance the Sri Lankan Culture with equal contributions from all the major religions. Minister of Religious Affairs Pandu Bandaranayake, Secretary to the Ministry Premadasa Kodituwakku, Commissioner for Buddhist Affairs H. W. D. Sunil, President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunge and many other officials participated.