A section of the Mihinthale Stupa was damaged by a powerful lightning strike on Friday evening with a large portion of the base rings of the stupa cracking and collapsing, Chief Incumbent of Mihinthale Raja Maha Vihara Ven. Walahangunawewe Dhammarathana Thera said.
 |
| Ven. Dhammarathana Thera inspecting the damage to the stupa |
He said the three-foot crown jewel (chuda manikya) of the stupa and the 18-foot kotha also were damaged.
The Mihinthale stupa was built by King Mahanaga around 7 AD and was restored in 1979.
The 152-foot stupa on top of Mihinthale hills was equipped with two lightning protection rods after its restoration, but these rods had fallen off about 10 years ago. Ven. Dhammarathana Thera said he had repeatedly requested Buddha Sasana Ministry and the Archaeology Department to refix the lightning protection rods but he was sad that they had failed to do so.
The new Disaster Management Deputy Minister W.B. Ekanayake who visited the stupa yesterday assured the Chief Incumbent that immediate action would be taken to restore the stupa and refix the lightning protection rods. |
E-mail
