No harm has been done to the archaeological value of the Ruwanwelisaya stupa site or the stupa itself during the renovations, Archaeology Department’s Director-General Prof. P.B. Mandawala said.

He rejected social media reports on alleged harm caused by the reconstruction work and said according to the reports received from archaeology officers at the site, there had been no damage caused and investigations would be carried out to further confirm this matter.

“The reconstruction work is being carried out by trained professionals under the consultation of well-experienced engineer Gemunu Silva who had supervised many construction projects related to the Archaeology Department. Even during the fixing of metal levers, these officials had taken care to use rubber meshes to prevent any harm to the archaeological value of the site.” Prof. Mandawala told a media conference held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.

Meanwhile, the Chief Incumbent of the Atamasthana, the Ven. Pallegama Siri Nivasa Nayaka Thera and the Chief Prelate of the Ruwanweli Seya, the Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thera said they had chosen the foundation called “Vishwa Parami Trust” to carry out this project based on their previous experience in reconstructing the golden fence at the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi at Anuradhapura.

They said the Vishwa Parami Trust foundation is a non-profit organisation that had previous experience in handling such projects and that the main benefactor of the foundation Prabath Nanayakkara is a well-educated individual who is very eager and determined in carrying out his religious activities.

Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thera said that this project was being carried out with purely religious motives and no political motives are involved in this reconstruction work.

While condemning those who had made false accusations without a clear knowledge of the facts, the Thera requested the detractors not to be narrow-minded and appreciate the work being done for the betterment of Buddhist culture. (Thisari Andria Walawege)