A DREAM COME TRUE
View(s):The 74th birth anniversary of the late Hon Gamini Dissanayake, the former minister in charge of the implementation of the great Mahaweli irrigation system falls on 20th march 2016. Almost the entirety of the great Mahaweli irrigation and hydropower generation scheme as dreamed by him has being completed successfully. the last element in this scheme, the Moragahakanda project too has commenced and this great son of Sri Lanka on whose shoulders dell the mantle of accomplishing one of the great irrigation schemes worthy of our nations illustrious past, can now rest in peace knowing that his primary mission was well accomplished.
However a secondary mission which was very dear to him and which commenced parallel to the Mahawei scheme was not accomplished during his lifetime, and even many years after his untimely demise. I am referring to the great Buddhist monument he had planned to be completed alongside the Mahaweli scheme, and international Buddhist centre located overlooking the first great reservoir of the Mahaveli scheme at Kotmale, with a Maga Stupa of the size comparable to the Maha Stupas built by the ancients inAnuradhapura, as its central edifice. This is a project that had been envisaged by him after the successful completion of the second stage the Meethirigala Vippassana meditation centre and the golden around the “Ashtapala” bodhi tree at Kataragama. This project referred to as the “Mahaweli Maha Seya”, based on the advice of the Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thero to replace several religious monuments inundated by the new Mahaweli reservoirs.
The project was inaugurated on the 20th march 1983, and was to be located on an escarpment in a village area known as “ Kotagapitiya” at Kotmale, overlooking the dam, not too far from the place where king Dutugamunu took refuge after being ostracized by his father. Hon Gamani Dissanayake also carefully chose the architect of the project, the former director general of the architect Dharmasiriwardene, and for engineering advice he chose the father of modern civil engineering inSri Lanka, Vidaya Jyothi Dr. A.S Kulasinghe. His design concept for the central edifice of the proposed religious centre was a hollow mega Stupa cover of a classical shape to encompass a central votive solid Stupa as in ancient Vata dagaba concept. He proposed the use of state of art construction techniques and materials of the late twentieth century for the central edifice.
A thin reinforced concrete shell dome structure, resting on end bearing cast in situ concrete pile foundations, with the rest of the classical superstructure made out of steel box beam structural elements covered by stainless steel plates, a pinnacle cast out of brass topped with the classical gem stone “Chuda manikaya” for the outer Stupa and 1\4 scale size model of the outer Stupa as the votive inner stupa where the relics were to be enshrined. The size of the outer Stupa was to be marginally smaller than the great Mahastupa Ruwanweliseya atAnuradhapura. The initial design and construction works of this pioneering construction was carried out by a selected engineering staff from the central engineering consultancy bureau. Some special construction equipment was provided by the state engineering corporation and some construction materials by the main contractor of the Kothmale dam, Skansa. The cost effective methodologies adopted for the construction, especially the 11 inch think, 200 foot diameter dome bears the stamp of the genius of Dr. kulasinghe.
The untiring superhuman efforts of the CECB engineers and technicians and the proper leadership and guidance given by the Hon. Gamini Dissanayake, who was always at hand to check and assist in the progress of his dream, led to a trouble free construction progress paralleling that the adjacent dam. Unfortunately the work on this project cam to the stand still in 1990 with him leaving Mahaweli ministry.
However work on the foundations shell dome, dome patina cover, and the some works on the steel super structure considered as a major portion of the outer Stupa works had been completed by then. It took almost 10 years to recommence work on this project as a result of an appeal made by Mrs. Srima Dissanayake and some religious dignitaries of the area among others, to the president of the republic to assist in completing this Stupa which when completed would be comparable tin size to the great Stupas of Anuradhapura constructed thousands of years ago. On the direction of the president madam chandrika Kumarathinga, Mahaweli ministry under Hon Maithripala Sirisena graciously consented to assist in recommencement of works. A committee was formed under the chairmanship of Vidhya Jyothu Dr A.N.S Kulasinghe consisting of eminent engineers and architects who previously worked on this project from CECB, SEC etc. initial funds were given from a fund earmarked by Hon. Gamini Dissanayake for the balance works of this project. Work recommended on a low key and progressed gradually according to availability of funds.
The balance works of the superstructure consisting mainly of the Haterskotuwa, Dewatakotuwa Kothkrella made entirely out of stainless steel was completed and the 13 feet high brass kotha in 12 sections was locally manufactured and placed on the structure by the beginning of 2008. Minor work on the superstructure continued until 2010 when funds available were totally exhausted. The outer Stupa in its full glory, few feet shorter than the Ruwanwely Seya, could now be proudly seen by the people pf the area. However the votive inner Stupa with the enshrined relics was yet to be built to bring this Stupa up to a place worthy of veneration although a Bodhi tree sapling from Maha Bodhi had been planted in a Bodhigaraya in the premises of the proposed centre.
At the very inception of the Mahaweli project, the intention of late Hon.Gamini Dissanayake was to construct a Maha Seya (holy temple) in remembrance of all religious places that slept under the waters of giant Mahaweli reservoirs. For that purpose, the Mahaweli Maha Seya project was initiated. Though late Hon. Gamini Dissanayake could not complete this project, today his elder son, Hon minister Navin Dissanayake, has taken steps to complete this project. His sole intention is to complete the Mahaweli Maha Seya construction at the earliest and hand it over to the people as a place of worship.
It has been decided to place the sacred Jewel on the finial of “Mahaweli Maha Seya”. And it becomes a day to remember because this memorable occasion takes place on the 74th birth anniversary of the late Hon. Gamini Dissanayake.