Swadeshi Khomba illuminates Rideegama, Ridee Viharaya for 7th consecutive year

Saturday, 7 September 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Swadeshi Chairperson Amari Wijewardene with Chief Incumbent of Rideegama, Ridee Viharaya and officials from Swadeshi

The Swadeshi Industrial Works PLC the pioneer herbal – personal care products manufacturer once again illuminated the Rideegama, Ridee Viharaya temple situated in the Kurunegala district. The ‘Aloka Pooja’ was carried out under the theme ‘Swadeshi Khomba Aloka Puja Sathkaraya’ during the annual Esala festival.

Swadeshi Chairperson Amari Wijewardene said that “as a Sri Lankan owned company, we consider it a duty to safeguard the culture and traditional heritage of Sri Lanka by supporting activities such as this annual Aloka Poojawa”.

She explained that Swadeshi illuminates places of worship in the country for the benefit of all worshippers and also to educate the younger generation on the importance of safeguarding the country’s heritage. The illumination is followed by a colourful cultural pageant which highlights upcountry traditions and history of Sri Lanka.

According to the Mahavamsa, the history of Ridee Viharaya which was illuminated by Swadeshi stretches up to Anuradhapura era. The legend says Ridee Viharaya had been commissioned in remembrance of the place from where Silver was extracted to build Ruwanmeli Maha Saaya in King Dutugemunu’s epoch.

The Ridee Viharaya which had sheltered 500 Bhikkus (monks) who had attained Arhat status had been later developed as a temple and a place of worship by the King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe.

Three incumbents of this ancient Ridee Viharaya have in the recent past become chief incumbents of Malwathu Maha Viharaya. Malwathu Maha Vihara Parshwa Maha Nayaka Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayaka Thero of Shyamopaali Maha Nikaya had become the third successive Thero to be appointed from the Ridee Viharaya as the Chief Incumbent of the Malwathu Maha Viharaya.

In 2013 the ‘Sri Dalada Maligawa’ of historic Dambadeni Raja Maha Viharaya, where the sacred tooth relic was kept and the ancient murals were renovated by Amari Wijewardene to bring back its past glory. Wijewardene is the great granddaughter of Helena Wijewardene Lamatheni, who initiated renovations of the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya in 1927.

Swadeshi also supports the Aloka Poojas of Kataragama Kiri Wehera, Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya, Devundara Uthpalawarna Vishnu Devalaya, Ratnapura Maha Saman Devalaya, Dambadeniya Raja Maha Viharaya and Keragala Raja Maha Viharaya annually.