Robing Avukana statue creates controversy

By Kushan Jayawardene   

Dressing the historic Avukana Buddha statue with a robe has created a controversy. Commenting on the issue Chief Incumbent of Avukana Rajamaha Vihara Ven. Shastrawelliye Dhammakitthi Thera refuted allegations on social media in this regard.  

Ven. Thera said the statue was dressed with a specially made robe in keeping with the traditional methods of Katina Pooja on the request of a reputed medical specialist in the country and his family   

He accused certain individuals of criticizing through ignorance the dressing of the Avukana statue with a Katina robe.   

“The doctor and his family met me and requested to allow them to offer a Katina robe to the historic Avukana Buddha statue. They performed the Pooja on the full moon Poya day on Sunday (26). They had made the robe in keeping with all traditions of making the Katina robe. However the robe was removed in about three hours and offered to the Avukana temple. This had not caused any damage to the statue. I have provided protection to the statue during the military conflicts and I would not allow anyone to cause damage to the historic statue,” the Ven. Thera said.  

Ven. Dhammakitthi Thera further said a team of officials of the Department of Archaeology carried out an inspection and admitted that no damage was caused to the statue.   
Minister of Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickremanayake had instructed the Director General of Archaeology to investigate the incident.