Compensation Provided to Temples in Kolonnawa Affected by Ditwah

Compensation has been provided to Buddhist temples in the Kolonnawa area that suffered damage during the Ditwah disaster, at an event held at the Kolonnawa Rajamaha Viharaya under the patronage of Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Hiniduma Sunil Senevi.

Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara also attended the event, which focused on compensation for religious institutions within the Kolonnawa Divisional Secretariat Division.

A total of 26 temples in the area were affected by the disaster. Under the initial round of payments, compensation was distributed to 15 temples and two silmatha (Buddhist nuns') monasteries.

Addressing the gathering, Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara said the delay in providing compensation was due to technical issues rather than a lack of funds.

He also said that substantial funding had been allocated for the development of canals and drainage systems to address the recurring flooding problem in Kolonnawa. The government expects to complete the work within three years, he added.

Minister Hiniduma Sunil Senevi said steps were being taken to address technical difficulties and revise the relevant circulars to facilitate the process.

He stressed the importance of developing rural temples through a dedicated programme and said several mechanisms were available to support traditional religious processions.

Referring to criticism that religious processions would come to a halt under the present government, the Minister said the opposite had happened, adding that the government had helped organise a procession that had not been held for seven years.

The Minister also spoke about the impact of the Ditwah disaster on Buddhist temples and addressed recent public discussions surrounding religious matters and his own Buddhist background.

He said he had spent much of his life at a temple and referred to two paintings at his temple, one of which depicts his grandfather. He also rejected what he described as false claims circulating about the removal of religious structures in Anuradhapura and the construction of a Rama temple.

Kolonnawa Rajamaha Viharaya Chief Incumbent Ven. Kolonnawa Dhammika Thera delivered a religious address at the event.

Several chief monks from temples in the Kolonnawa area, Colombo Divisional Secretary Priyanath Perera, local government representatives and other invitees were also present.