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TEMPLE DEVELOPMENT SCHEME OF LUNUGAMVEHERA

Lunugamvehera is a remote and difficult area in the district of Hambantota in Southern Province in Sri Lanka. The temples in this area were constructed by the people who settled in the area, under colonisation schemes are, less privileged and facing many difficulties to earn their daily bread.

Small temples that are found in each Grama Niladhari Division, serve the day to day religious activities of the people in the village but, they are able to look after only the daily needs of the residential monks of each temple. They are not in a position to up keep or develop the buildings as they have no proper income to spend out. At present some of the buildings are in dilapidated condition and several of them are about to be abandoned by the residential monks as live in them is harmful to life.

Taking into the consideration of this pathetic situation Ven. Kirama Wimalajothi Thero, Director of  Buddhist Cultural Centre of Nadimala, Dehiwala and the Chairman and Direstor General of Sahanodaya Foundation Ven. Haputale Pannarama thero  took a decission to take initial steps and formed an organization by the name of Dharmagrama Development Consortium in order to improve the conditions of the selected underdeveloped twenty four temples, six Buddhist Centres and two upasikaramas in the area. The advisory board of the said consortium consists of:

 

1.      Ven, Kirama Wimalajothi Thero, the Director Buddhist Cultural Centre, Nadimala,   Dehiwala

2.      Ven. H.Pangnarama Thero, the President of Sahanoda Foundation, Dehiwala

3.      Ven. H.Gunananda Thero, Religious Advisor to the H.E.President of Sri Lanka.

4.      Mr. Lalith Weeratunga, the Secretary to the H.E. the President of Sri Lanka.

5.      Mr. Shasundra Kumara Rajapakse, Basnayake Nilame of Kataragama Devala.

6.      Mr. Bandula Weerawardana of Sahanodaya Foundation, Dehiwala.

The ancient Sri Lanka was well to do with well balanced economy and society as the kings who ruled the country kept the Tank, Chaitya, Village and Temple at the zenith. But it is accepted that our country is now behind because we have neglected this concept.

The aim of the Mahinda Chintana is to go for the above said concept and hence reawaken the village by giving dominant place to the temple.

The Dharmagrama Development Consortium is formed to assist H E the President of Sri Lanka in his programme to develop 10000 temples through out the country. Dharmagrama Development Consortium is a nonprofit organization and all the staff working in it is not paid.

Under the direction and supervision of the organization, Temple development committee for each respective temple was formed in which patrons consists of 

1.  Incumbent high priest of respective temple.

2.  Divisional Secretary of Lunugamvehera.

3.  Chairman of Lunugamvehera Pradesheeya Sabha.

4.  Opposition Leader of Lunugamvehera Pradesheeya Sabha.

5.  O.I.C. of Lunugamvehera Police Station.

 

The expected results through this programme:

1.      Behavioral Development

2.      Educational Development

3.      Pease and companionship through Social development

4.      Health Improvement

5.      Employment through merit Development

6.      Community Development

7.      Economic Development

The reawakened temples get the responsibility of the above developments in the village.The necessary guidance will be given by the Consortium.

What we do: 

 

1. Identification of temples
2. Active involvement of Temple Development Committee for the projects and educate them and motivation
3. Identification of the required developments in the temples through the Temple Development Committee (TDC)
4. Obtain the unskilled labour services worth 20% of the total estimated cost for the projects from the village TDC.
5. Finding of patron/foster personality to bear the balance 80% cost.
6. Technical Consultancy services by professionals   

 

The Lunugamvehera Divisional Secretariat area is selected as the pilot project and actions are taken to develop 32 Buddhist temples. The consortium believes that this process can be extended to the entire country.

We earnestly appeal the Philanthropists to extend their kind hand on this needy service.

Those who are interested to undertake any part of the project or to make donations may contact Buddhist Cultural Centre Nadimala, Dehiwala, in order to obtain more details.

The estimated expenses with photographs of the identified temples can be downloaded from pages of this blog.