A life of commitment in safeguarding the Atamasthanaya

By Themiya L.B. Hurulle

Being the custodian of the Anuradhapura Atamasthanaya, one of the most sacred places of Buddhist worship in Sri Lanka, is no easy task. Especially, when it involves protecting and nurturing the oldest documented tree in the world which was brought as a Bo-Sapling from the parent tree that helped Prince Siddhartha attain enlightenment in India.   

The Late Venerable Dr. Pallegama Siriniwasa Thero, Chief Sanganayake of the North Central Province who was the incumbent at the Ruwanweliseya Temple was elected as the Atamasthaanadhipathi on the passing of the Ven. Pallegama Gnanarathana Thero, the previous incumbent.   

Ven. Siriniwasa Nayaka Thero thereafter ensured that the eight most sacred places of worship in Anuradhapura were protected and developed to the best level possible considering the facilities that were available. In 1977, with the liberalization of Sri Lanka’s economy in 1977, better materials, machinery and other resources became available which meant that quality improvements could be carried out. In addition, an increase in pilgrimages to Anuradhapura was also seen.   

The need for a RANVETA (Golden Fence) for the protection of the Sacred Bo-Tree was seen and initiated in the 1960s and completed. However, with the passage of time, the need to construct a second Ranveta was observed and this work was started in the late 1990s. For this, a Ranveta Development Committee was set up and work started with donations being received from the public and well-wishers. The activities were further streamlined in 2001 with a proposal discussed between  Ven. Dr. Pallegama Siriniwasa Nayaka Thero and the Prime Minister Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe which led to the ANURADHAPURA JAYASHRIMAHABODHI DEVELOPMENT FUND being enacted by Parliament as Act. No.41 of 2006. This gave wider powers to the Fund’s Committee to make progressive decisions for the development of the Atamasthanaya’s eight sacred places of worship. 

 
Furthermore, the legislation required that the appointments to the fund committee be made by the incumbent Prime Minister based on recommendations of the Atamasthanadhipathi. The Act also made it possible for the Department of Archaeology, the Central Cultural Fund, the Buddhist Affairs Department, the District Secretary of Anuradhapura and the National Physical Planning Department to be on the Committee as Ex-Officio members to facilitate the overall planning and implementation work. The legislation also specified that the Atamasthanadhipathi would be the Patron Advisor and should preside at meetings of the Committee   

Thereafter, much progress and development of the Atamasthanaya were achieved that included the following:-   

• Restoration and conservation of the Ruwanweliseya Dagoba.   
• Restoration and conservation of the Mirisawetiya Dagoba.   
• Construction of the second Ranveta for the Shri Maha Bodhiya.   
• Restoration of a part of the retaining wall of the Shri Maha Bodhiya which collapsed during the time of the Tsunami in other parts of Sri Lanka.   
• Construction of a new SATH-SATHI Mandiriya instead of the previous SATH-SATHI Mandiriya which was in a dilapidated condition.   
• The restoration of the collapsed granite boundary wall around the Shri Maha Bodhiya (built during the Keerthi Sri-Rajasinghe period)   
• The construction of a three-section Aramaya building for resident and visiting monks   
• Provision of purified and de-mineralised drinking water for visiting devotees   
• Creation of well-laid out vehicle parks for devotees who come to the Atamasthanaya’s sacred sites.   
• Construction of a two-level building at Nawala (as the Colombo Office) for the Atamasthanaya for meetings with additional resting facilities for Priests who travel to Colombo.   
• Setting up of a Library and Archives for the preservation of ancient documents and historical information for the benefit of visitors.   

All these and more could not have been achieved if not for the untiring efforts of the Atamasthanadhipathi who dedicated his entire life for the upliftment of Buddhism and the sacred sites of worship at Anuradhapura.   
May the Ven. Dr.Pallegama Siriniwasa Nayaka Thero attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana Sampaththiya.   
The writer is the Honorary Secretary, ANURADHAPURA JAYASHRIMAHABODHI 
DEVELOPMENT FUND