The story behind the Samadhi statue at Viharamahadevi Park

Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industries President Emeritus Aloy Jayawardene presents a replica of the brass Samadhi Buddha statue at Viharamahadevi Park to President Maithripala Sirisena as Presidential Investigations Unit Director Ruban Wickramaarachchi looks on. The 15-ft statue, which is the largest brass cast Buddha statue in Sri Lanka, was manufactured by Jayawardene at his factory, Metalrich, Wattala and installed on 26 May 1972

Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industries President Emeritus Aloy Jayawardene recently presented a replica of the brass cast Samadhi statue of Lord Buddha installed at Viharamahadevi Park to President Maithripala Sirisena, to commemorate 45 years since its production and installation. Following is a brief narration by Jayawardene about the production of the statue:

The 15-foot tall brass cast Samadhi statue of Lord Buddha at Viharamahadevi Park opposite the Colombo Municipal Council was installed at its site on 26 May 1972.

It was the well-known Sculptor Priest, late Ven. Dr. Mapalagama Vipulasara Thero who created the moulds in concrete for the brass casting of the statue. It so happened that he contacted large companies like Walkers, Browns, Commercials, but they had turned down the request. 

The Ven. Priest came to know that I was doing brass castings and he contacted me and I was invited to his temple to discuss the matter. Having visited his temple, he explained to me the work I had to do, showing me a sketch of the statue. Having examined the sketch and the discussion I had with the Ven. Priest, the type of casting needed for the production of the statue was beyond my experience in brass casts. 

All the Ven. Priest said was: “You are intelligent enough, kindly study reading the required books and my kind request is that you should undertake this job for me.” I took this challenge and started on the job. The Ven. Priest financed me to put up an additional structure at my factory to house the work of the statue. Subsequently he gave 58 pieces of concrete moulds for the brass cast. By trial and error, I was finally successful to complete all 58 pieces moulded in brass and have them welded together. The Colombo Municipality sent a tractor to transport the brass casts to Viharamahadevi Park, where the Ven. Priest had put up a concrete pedestal to place the statue.

The statue was in two sections, the body and the head separately. We filled the body with sand as it was hollow and thereafter welded the head to the body. The final polishing and lacquering was done on the statue and made ready for the opening on 26 May 1972, to commemorate the Republic Day, with a distinguished gathering including H.E. William Gopallawa, Hon. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the Prime Minster, and a number of ministers including His Worship the Mayor of Colombo, late Mr. Vincent Perera.

The same year in October 1972, I received a letter from the Prime Minister’s Office indicating that I had been selected for the ‘Leaders Invitation Programme’ from the Government of Japan for four weeks. This Programme is offered only for two persons, one from the State sector and the other from the private sector. My selection was from the private sector.

I telephoned the Ven. Priest informing him about the letter from the Prime Minister’s Office. The Ven. Priest told me that he was invited to Temple Trees one morning by Mrs. Bandaranaike, Prime Minister. The Ven. Priest was requested to sit next to her, and she had explained about the letter from the Japanese Government.

The Prime Minister inquired from the Ven. Priest whether the programme for the private sector “should be offered to Mr. Jayawardene who did the brass cast Buddha statue for us? Being a Catholic, for him to have undertaken this job was highly commended by all Buddhists in the country” and the Ven. Priest approved same.

The Government of Japan had arranged my complete programme for visits and study of major brass cast factories in Kyoto where large brass cast Buddha statues were made. This was a great exposure I had in brass castings.

My humble and grateful thanks to late Hon. Mrs. Bandaranaike the Prime Minister and late Ven. Dr. Mapalagama Vipulasara Thera for this prestigious programme given to me.

Having returned from Japan after my programme, the Ven. Priest entrusted me with another brass cast statue of the Lord Buddha which was 10 ft. high for the Pepiliyana Temple, the previous statue which was brass cast for Viharamahadevi Park was 15 ft. high.

The 40th anniversary of the installation of the Buddha statue was celebrated with a pirith ceremony at the site on 26 May 2012, which was organised by the former Mayor, His Worship Mr. Muzzamil. I was requested to light up 40 oil lamps prepared by the Municipality which were placed in front of the statue.

Special messages from the then Prime Minister and Minister for Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs, Hon. D.M. Jayaratne MP, and Ven. Madapatha Dhammasara Thera, Chief Incumbent, Parama Dhamma Chaithya Pirivena, Ratmalana, the successor to the late Ven. Mapalagama Vipulasara Thera were received on this occasion. 

I am extremely proud that as a Roman Catholic that late Ven. Dr. Mapalagama Vipulasara Thera had great confidence in me doing these two jobs for him. May he attain supreme bliss of Nibbana.