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| Sunday, 22 May 2005 |
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Attanagalla high priest in house-building spree by Don Asoka Wijewardena The chief incumbent of the Attanagalla Raja Mahavihare Ven. (Dr.) Pannila Sri Ananda Thera has undertaken to fulfil a noble task on behalf of the Buddhist Order to construct 310 housing units, in a 532 Sq.ft each in tsunami-hit areas in Paraliya, Thelwatta and Daluwattamulla in the Hikkaduwa area. In addition 21 housing units will also be constructed in Kalmunai in the Ampara district at a cost of Rs.7 million. Ven. Thera told the Sunday Observer that he toured Kamburugamuwa in the Matara district two weeks after the tsunami and was shocked over the plight of the people, especially children who lost everything, some including parents. He then called Houston Buddhist Vihara and the Buddhist Vihara in Los Angeles requesting donations and as a result Buddhists residing in the United States had responded by donating Rs. 60 million to get started with construction activities. Ven. Dr. Ananda Thera also said that the Dharamavijaya Buddhist Vihare in Los Angeles headed by Ven. (Dr.) Walpola Piyananda Thera along with Buddhists and the Hollywood Stars Association had already given Rs. 13.6 million to construct 32 housing units at Galagodawatta in Galle district and the houses would be ready for occupation in two months time. Ven. Thera also appreciated financial donations made by Ven. Dr. Basnagoda Rahula Thera and to all those who voluntarily came forward to help the tsunami-affected. Referring to another major housing scheme for the tsunami affected, Ven. Thera revealed that with the financial assistance from Singapore and Malaysia, around 10,000 housing units of 508 Sq. ft area each would be constructed in the South and the East. According to him around Rs. 90 million will be required to complete 310 housing units. Apart from the construction of housing units, several Montessori schools will be opened in Redeegama, Ambalantota with the financial assistance from Sri Lankan expats in Italy and Houston in USA. |
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