President hands over Myanmar crest gem to Mihinthale Temple

Monday, 27 May 2013 00:46 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday handed over a crest gem donated by a Myanmar Buddhist delegation to adorn the pinnacle of the Mihinthale (Sela) Chaithya to the Chief Prelate of the Mihinthale Raja Maha Viharaya Ven. Walawahengunawewe Dhammaratana Nayake Thera at a ceremony at Temple Trees.

The Crest Gem was taken to Mihinthale in a special motorcade from Colombo. The motorcade made several stops along the way to Mihinthale for the public to view and pay homage. The motorcade made its first stop at the Attanagalla Raja Maha Viharaya, the Kurunegala Bauddhaloka Pirivena on 25 May, the Padeniya Raja Maha Viharaya on 26 May, the Anuradhapura Uda Maluwa Viharaya, Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Premises and Ruwanweli Seya premises on 27 May before arriving at the Mihinthale Raja Maha Viharaya on 28 May.

The jewel will be crowned atop the Pinnacle of the Mihinthale Chaithya on Poson Poya day on 23 June.

The Crest Gem (Chuda Manikya) of the Mihintale Seya Chaithya was damaged by lightning in April 2010 and Myanmar donated the Crest Gem valued at Rs. 10 million to replace the damaged stone.