In lieu of Viharas sacrificed for Mahaweli project “Maha Mahaweli Seya” constructed in Kotmale opened

In lieu of Viharas sacrificed for Mahaweli project “Maha Mahaweli Seya” constructed in Kotmale opened

President Maithripala Sirisena , Prime Minisyter Ranil Wickremasinghe and a number of dignitaries of the government and VIP’s declared opened yesterday the Kotmale Mahaweli Maha Seya.

During the tenure of the JR Jayewardena

government the then  Minister of Mahaweli development Gamini Dissanayake had although with a lot of hesitation had to sacrifice lands of people  and many Buddhist Viharayas of historical and archaeological value  for  building of the Kotmale reservoir for the Mahaweli  development scheme.

After a period of 33 years the construction of the Kotmale Mahaweli Maha Seya had been completed and  the Seya had been opened with a temple for Buddhist devotees to worship.( construction activities had not done between 1991-2001)

The Seya has been constructed on 32 large concrete drums which is the first of its kind in the world and is 289 feet in height.This Seya is two feet less in height less than the Ruwanweli Maha Seya.There is a huge void inside the Seya where devotees could enter to worship.

Photos are shown below: