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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

04th March 2022 08:30:01 Hours

Commander Evaluates Progress in Reviving Kuragala Monastery

The archaeologically-rich 2nd Century BC Balangoda Pooragala Raja Maha Vihara alias Kuragala Cave monastery, which remained dilapidated and encroached by various interested elements for a long time, is now fast reaching its ancient glory with a total facelift and a complete renovation as a Buddhist place of reconciliation and harmony, and is geared to hold this year's National Vesak Festival in the premises as per directions of HE the President and Hon Prime Minister who is also the Minister of Buddha Sasana.

Focus on this pre-historic era monastery was refreshed several years ago when HE the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was serving the office of Secretary Defence before 2015 during visits to the area and the revival of this ancient religious place began in earnest soon after HE the President took office. His instructions and directions to General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army prompted him to make technical skills and manpower of Army personnel available for restoration of this ancient religious place on the guidelines, being given by Ven Waturakumbure Dhammaratana Thera, Incumbent for both Kuragala Monastery Temple and Nelligala International Buddhist Centre while harnessing the support of non-Buddhists, resident in adjacent areas as well as hundreds of Buddhist devotees.

General Shavendra Silva with the objective of assessing the progress of the ongoing construction work and receiving an update on the deadlines for completion of remaining tasks before the Vesak Full Moon Poya day visited the location and was touched by the overwhelming support and presence of hundreds of volunteers who have shown up there to lend their voluntary helping hand for monastery's revival and development work, now underway in full swing.

General Shavendra Silva ascended the cave summit soon after his arrival and saw for himself the ongoing development work closely, including the renovation of the main Dagoba (Stupa) atop the summit which has been brick built and archaeologically conserved, considering it as one of the 'Akasa Chaithya' tradition pagodas which has existed since pre-historic times with caves, used as a Buddhist monastery during the period between the 3rd and the 2nd century BC as per historic chronicles.

During a brief interaction with Ven Waturakumbure Dhammaratana Thera, the Army Chief was given a brief on the status-quo as regards its remaining work and he was invited to have a look at the residential quarters of the monks (Aawasage), road networks, moats and the Stupa (pagoda), all under construction while preserving ancient stone carvings and ruins at the location. General Shavendra Silva also took time off to speak to volunteers, engaged in different roles with piety, all walks of life, including many children who had arrived on pilgrimage and shared a few thoughts with Army troops, dedicated to the assignment.

The sacred premises also expects to have its own adjoining cultivable paddy fields and lands that could provide required rice and vegetables for consumption of resident monks since the area Kaltota is exclusively rich with untapped water resources that drain down from the Sripada mountain range.