GENERAL SHAVENDRA SILVA LAYS CORNER-STONE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF NEW ‘STUPA ' AT TISSA VIHARAYA

The auspicious corner-stone laying ceremony for erection of the new pagoda (Chaithya Stupa) and the monastery at the historic Tissa Raja Maha Viharaya in Kankesanthurai began this morning (30) amid religious formalities and blessings of the Maha Sangha as a result of the cooperation, extended by the Jaffna Security Force HQ, Navy, Air Force and the Police.

On the invitation of the Commander, Security Forces - Jaffna, Major General Priyantha Perera, General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army and Head of the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) as the Chief Guest, laid the foundation stone for construction of the new Stupa and the monastery at this historic place where the Bhikkuni Sangamitta some centuries ago waited for a pause en route to Anuradhapura after landing at Dambakola Patuna from Jambudeevpa during the reign of the King Devanampiyatissa (250-210 BC).

Construction of the Stupa, 100 ft in height has been designed by the Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa and further technical expertise for the construction is extended by Professor Samitha Manawadu and Professor Nimal de Silva of the University of Moratuwa. Both constructions will be carried out by the 5 Corps of Engineer Services troops of the SFHQ-J.

In the most recent past, Security Forces in Jaffna on the instructions of respective Jaffna Commanders cooperated with the temple incumbent for its sustenance which also resulted in the conduct of the ancient ‘Katina Pooja ' after absence of nearly 67 years in the year 2019. A few months ago, Major General Senarath Bandara, the incumbent Chief of Staff in the Army who served as the Jaffna Commander before he was appointed as the Chief of Staff at the Army HQ contributed to the growth of this historic sacred place, providing a huge Buddha Statue with the support of Hon Sarath Weerasekera, State Minister and General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne, Secretary Defence. The initiation of the Stupa construction was also coordinated through Major General Senarath Bandara and the project would be accomplished under the supervision of the incumbent Commander Security Forces- Jaffna, Major General Priyantha Perera.

After offerings, the day 's Chief Guest, General Shavendra Silva as the auspicious minute struck laid the first corner-stone for construction of the sacred pagoda while members of the Maha Sangha, led by Most Ven Narampanawe Ananda Thero of the Asgiriya Chapter, together with several other monks went on chanting ‘Seth Pirith '. Chief of Staff, Jaffna Commander, Professor Samitha Manawadu, Professor Nimal de Silva, Miss Thushara Thenuwara and a few others followed suit and laid foundation-stones on the same occasion simultaneously.

Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs has allocated funds for the construction of the monastery and both local and foreign Buddhists devotees will contribute to the construction of the Stupa. Coordination of the construction work is implemented by the Commander, Forward Maintenance Area-North Brigadier Wanditha Mahinkanda, the Commanding Officer 5th Sri Lanka Army Service Corps - Lieutenant Colonel R Panditharathne and Miss Thushara Thenuwara, a volunteering devotee.

Afterwards, General Shavendra Silva offered alms to participating monks at Thal Sewana Army Holiday Resort and took time off to talk to those monks who had arrived in Jaffna for the ceremony. Brigadier General Staff Security Force HQ- Jaffna, Brigade Commanders, representative from Navy, Air Force, Police, STF and troops were present on the occasion.