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Dighavapi-the buldozed Heritage.

By Charles.S.Perera

Dighavapi is one of the places visited by the Buddha. The Stupa does not contain a relic of the Buddha but was built on the spot where the Buddha with five hundred of his Noble Arahats sat to meditate. Dighavapi would therefore be ideal for the construction of an International Meditation Centre, with more and more people both Buddhist and non-Buddhist are interested in Buddhist Meditation.

There was a news item that the Cabinet had approved the reconstruction work of the Dighavapi. It was not the first time that reconstruction work of the Dighavapi Stupa and the area around it had been started. But, on those occasions no sooner the work was started some thing or another intervened to stop progress, and nothing was heard of it thereafter.

As far back as in 1980 the Late J.R.Jayawardhana had laid a foundation stone for the restoration of the Dighavapi Stupa, but it had not gone beyond that ceremonial occasion.

Then in 1997, it was proposed to construct the Dighavapi Model Village. There was a ceremonial opening of the project on the 20 June 1997 by the then Minister of Ports, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Late Mr. M.H.M.Ashraff. The people who had been selected for the donation of the houses were provided with brick and cement, while the people themselves contributed by providing the necessary labour, and meals for the construction workers. A team of journalists visited the area on the 10 October,1999 and found a scattered number of half constructed houses, and the people still living in huts. The project had been abandoned, the Minister thought he had constructed 1000 houses.

Then in January, 2000 there was a proposal to have the area constituted as a Special Development Area. That too lived a short life. In a report it was mentioned, "….. It would appear that powerful forces have intervened to thwart the development of Dighavapi."

The Stupa itself despite publicised reconstruction programmes did not go beyond its circular base. If the same fate is not to be repeated, for this latest proposal of the reconstruction project, the Minister Mr. Dinesh Gunawardhana should take a personal interest in the project , with regular visits and instructions for the submission to him of regular progress reports. If not this time too there is the possibility of the project being abandoned half way through, for various reasons.

The project also requires security for the construction workers, as well as facilities for storage of material. The Minister should consider along with the commencement of the reconstruction work, the establishment of a Police Station for the general security of the area. There was a talk about the loss of a rock inscriptions.

The area lacks proper transport. Some time back there was only one bus that was plying from the temple premises to the near by town -Ampare, and the time of its arrival, and departure was irregular. This is very important for the pilgrims, as many people are reluctant to visit the temple due to lack of travel facilities.

Once the construction work is commenced people should be kept informed of the progress of the project through the print media.

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