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| Sunday, 11 January 2004 |
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Buddhist prelate to assist reconstruct 40 temples damaged by floods by Deepal Warnakulasuriya A Buddhist prelate has come forward to assist in the reconstruction of 40 temples in the Galle, Matara, Hambantota and Ratnapura districts that were damaged during the floods and landslide in May 2003. More than 90 temples were damaged, in the four districts due to the devastating flood that rendered several thousand people homeless. Ven. Bodagama Chandima Nayaka Thera, Chief Sanghanayaka to Taiwan and President of the Dharmachakkra Child Foundation, Bandaragama pledged Rs. 25.5 million for the reconstruction of these temples. The funds have been obtained with the assistance of the 'Theravada Samadhi Educational Foundation' and Buddhists in Taiwan. Ven. Chandima Nayaka Thera at a meeting of Maha Sangha at the Manelwatta Viharaya, Kelaniya said that the funds will be utilised to repair 40 selected temples and to rebuild 4 temples damaged by floods to the foundations. The Nayaka thera said that the funds for the reconstruction work will be released on February 07 through the Dharmachakkra Child Foundation, Bandaragama. He also added that the four temples to be completely rebuilt will be designed by experienced architects in the country. Dharmachakkra Child Foundation Secretary Ven. Pallewela Sarada Thera said that the Foundation had also arranged to distribute 5,000 copies of the 'Dhammapada' in Sinhala, English and Tamil. Scholarships to 40 medical students will also be given on the same date. He revealed that the Nayaka Thera had assisted the governments to print the Dhamma School books from Grade one to nine in 1992 and Dhamma School Final Examination books in 1999. Ratnapura Shasanarakshaka Bala Mandalaya Secretary Ven. Ethoya Mahinda Thera claimed that places of worship damaged or destroyed by the May floods had not received any compensation from the Ministry of Buddha Sasana though compensation had been earmarked and urged the Maha Sangha to initiate action to remind the government of their pledge. |
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