By B. G. Chaturanga 

The eighteen caves conserved under the project to conserve 68 ancient caves in Mihintale that provided shelter to the meditating Buddhist monks and the devotees were offered to the Mahasangha on the full moon Poya day on Sunday. 

It coincided with the 2330th State Katina ceremony held at the Mihintale Rajamaha Vihara.

Sri Lanka Army provided free labour to the project implemented under the supervision of the Department of Archaeology.

Delivering the Anusasana, Chief Incumbent of the temple Ven. Walawahengunawewe Dhammarathana Thera said the decision to conserve the caves had been taken after several meetings held in Colombo attended by Director General of Archaeology, Senior Prof. Senerath Manatunga, Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhist Affairs and Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and that the conservation project was implemented under their direct supervision.

Ven. Dhammarathana Thera pointed out that the project had not caused any environmental damage and that the critics of the project should first visit it and find facts about it.