Prez says all should feel guilty of failure to construct Maha Vihara

• “Despite the fact that Sri Lanka is a Buddhist nation, we were unable to finish the Maha Vihara’s construction” 

Despite years of excavation, the archaeological authorities are yet to discover where the historic Maha Vihara stood in Anuradhapura so that it can be rebuilt.   

This was revealed at a meeting chaired by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Anuradhapura on Sunday to discuss the Anuradhapura Sacred Site Development Plan. 

At the meeting, the President said India began the construction of Nalanda University in the 1990s.   
“Today, Nalanda University has been established as a major university. Many countries made contributions to it. Pakistan, a Muslim country, also built Taxila in the same way. Despite the fact that Sri Lanka is a Buddhist nation, we were unable to finish the Maha Vihara’s construction. We should all feel guilty about it,” he said.   
He instructed the officials to expedite the Anuradhapura Sacred Site Development Plan, giving priority to the Maha Viharaya Development Plan. 

The President also mentioned that a Committee consisting of a team of experts from the National Physical Planning Department (NPPD), the Department of Archaeology, and universities will be appointed to implement the Maha Viharaya Development Plan.   

The discussion was held under the Chairmanship of the Atamasthanadhipathi and Chief Sanghanayaka of Nuwara Kalaviya most Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thero.   

The President remarked that it is regrettable that we, who are entitled to a proud civilization and history, are not paying adequate attention to it when the countries of the world continue to emphasize their historical civilization.   
The President questioned the officials about the identification of the Maha Viharaya complex’s boundaries and the status of the excavation work. He also inquired about the number of archaeological officers employed in the Maha Viharaya’s excavation and the development of the Anuradhapura Sacred Site, the composition, and the allocated provisions.