Father rides kite on the air to collect aid for temple where son is ordained

Father rides kite on the air to collect aid for temple where son is ordained

A young father is preparing to display a heroic stunt by flying into air about 1,200 feet along a rope as assistance for a gigantic kite to remain in air today (15) after creating it with the motive of collecting charity for the temple his son was dedicated to the sasana. 

It is a father of two children aged 46 years, K.W.E.S.D. Rohana Kumara, living in Talawakele but without a stable address who is involved in creating a huge kite in a ground adjoining a wewa close to
the city of Anuradhapura with the intention of displaying his heroism. The kite which is being created with close upon 25 fertilizer bags, dried bamboos, bamboo splinters and thread was nearing completion towards last afternoon (14) and to give it a trial it was scheduled to have it airborne towards evening. Where its dimensions are concerned, it is 79,625 square feet, 30 feet high and 49 feet in width. 

Mr. K.W.P.S.D. Rohana Kumara who expressed his ideas in relevance to his heroic effort says: "My podi putha is ordained in the sasana. I thought of ding something heroic for his vihara to collect charity. On 13 occasions previously I have got myself airborne by making a gigantic kite and with the aid of a rope. 

It took me a period of about a month to chop bamboos and to dry those. To make the kite does not take even 24 hours. The neighbourhood provide much co-operation in this regard. Kamal aiyya helped me a lot. It costs about Rs. 40,000 to complete work on this kite which is to be airborne this afternoon (15). He had earned that money by engaging in labour-work. I never asked even five cents from anybody. The kite needs about 125 sacks of fertilizer. Sacks are cut into two parts and are stitched as supports for the kite. The kite is airborne with the aid of a nylon rope weighing 12 millilitres. 

My intention is to send the kite to the air of a height of 1,000 - 1,200 feet. The only small issue is that there are high-tension lines close to the wewa. So the kite should be flown in a manner that it does not come in contact with the wires concerned. We asked for permission from Anuradhapura air force also. 

After I send the kite to the vacant space, the kite reaches the top along the ropes in a few minutes. If anybody makes a challenge I will send the kite even 5,000 feet into the skies. I also will travel up and go along the rope and show them. 

According the the doctrine of Buddhism we all die. Whether I am in a hotel or in space, if I am to die ... will die. I'll engage in this heroic act without any fear of death. Iwas born in Talawakele. My father worked in the royal air force and was employed as a santer later at railway department. We have gone to places where father has had to go. I have no stable address. My present address is this wewa-ground and it will be some other place in a few more days. I donate to Buddha sasana what I earn. I don't even have an inch to call my own", he remarked.

Anuradhapura -- Mahesh Wijeysuriya