ComBank-donated museum opened in Kirivehera site

A museum constructed by the Commercial Bank of Ceylon in the precincts of the historic Kataragama Kirivehera was opened recently by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa opens the new museum building. First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Chief Minister of Uva Province Shashindra Rajapaksa, Chairman of the Commercial Bank’s CSR Trust Lakshman Hulugalle and MD and CEO Ravi Dias look on.

The museum will house ancient artefacts that have been found at excavations on temple lands for the benefit of devotees and tourists who visit the site.

President Rajapaksa also unveiled a commemorative plaque at the site in November 2011, before construction work on the building commenced.

The 2,160 square foot, split-level, single-storey building will also accommodate a bookshop. The donation of the building was made in response to a request to the bank by the Viharadhipathi of the Kataragama Kirivehera, Ven. Aluthwewa Soratha Nayaka Thera. Considered one of the 16 most sacred Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka, the Kirivehera is believed to have been built in the third century BC by King Mahasen. "The Commercial Bank CSR Trust was pleased to support this project, which will help preserve important artefacts and documents for posterity," said the Bank's MD and CEO, Ravi Dias.

First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Chief Prelate of the temple, Ven. Aluthwewa Soratha Nayaka Thera, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, Chief Minister of Uva Province, Shashindra Rajapaksa, Chairman of the Bank's CSR Trust, Lakshman Hulugalle, MD and CEO, Ravi Dias, members of the senior corporate management of Commercial Bank and many devotees were present.

"The Commercial Bank's CSR initiatives are prioritised, planned and executed under the guidance of the Bank's CSR Trust which was set up in 2004. The Bank contributes up to one percent of its post-tax profit annually towards the Trust's projects," a spokesman for the bank said.