President instructs speedy development of Dimbulagala sacred area

The Dimbulagala sacred area will be developed with full facilities within two years to be an attractive place of worship which will draw local and foreign devotees and visitors, said President Maithripala Sirisena.

It will be the greatest honour that could be extended to late Chief Incumbents of the Dimbulagala Aranya Senasana, Ven. Kithalagama Siri Seelalankara Thero and Ven. Maldeniye Jinalankara Thero, he added.

The President made these remarks at the cremation ceremony of late Ven. Maldeniye Jinalankara Thero held this week at Dimbulagala Sacred area.

Sirisena said that the historic Dimbulagala would be developed as an attractive sacred city with all amenities and facilities within next two years.

The President added that late Chief Incumbents Ven. Kithalagama Siri Seelalankara Thero and Ven. Maldeniye Jinalankara Thero made a great commitment to develop the Dimbulagala sacred city and it was unfortunate that the State failed to given sufficient support to this endeavour. “Within a few months after coming to power, the new Government has started the development process of the historic Dimbulagala sacred city,” he added.

The Chief Incumbent Ven. Maldeniye Jinalankara Thero’s demise is a great loss to the Dimbulagala area as well as to the country, Sirisena said. Ven. Maldeniye Jinalankara Thero spend his life in a rural area like Dimbulagala and he had experienced the plight of the people in that area due to many reasons such as drought and poverty and the Nayaka Thero’s life is exemplary for the community of Bhikkhus, he said.

The Maha Sangha, Ministers and MPs, Chief Minister of North Central province Peshala Jayaratne, public representatives and a large crowd gathered at the funeral to pay a final tribute to Ven. Maldeniye Jinalankara Thero.