President, PM inaugurate Sandahiru Seya in Anuradhapura

Sanda Hiru Seya

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday presided over the ceremonial unveiling of the Sandahiru Seya in Anuradhapura for the worship of devotees all over the world.

Sandahiru Seya, vested with the Venerable Maha Sanga today, was built to commemorate the heroic war heroes who made great sacrifices for the unity of the motherland and to mark the end of the thirty-year war, based on a concept of the fifth Executive President and present Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and under the guidance of the then Defense Secretary President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

Financial and labour donations were made by the Armed Forces, the Police, the Civil Defence Force, the clergy and laymen.

This is the largest dageba built in Sri Lanka after the construction of the Jethavanaramaya in Anuradhapura by King Mahasen in AD 301.

Construction of the ‘Sandahiru Seya Chaithya’ commenced on 22 November 2010 and the sacred relics were placed on 22 November 2014. The ‘Crest Gem’ had been placed at the tip of the Stupa pinnacle on 8 November, amidst religious observances.

The stupa is 282 feet and six inches high, and 800 feet in circumference. This bubble-shaped chaitya houses the sacred relics, including the ‘Kapilavastu’ relics. The height of the Crest Gem placed in the dagoba is three feet six inches. There are 1,895 gemstones, inlaid with gold as well as pearls.

The President and the Prime Minister unveiled the ‘Sacred Pinnacle’ and the ‘Crest Gem’’ of Sandahiru Stupa amid Jaya Pirith chanting, Deva Aradhana, and the Hevisi drums. The Maha Sangha and the Chief Guests offered flowers and incense in front of the main Wahalkada statue and at the temple.