A Presidential Advisory Council has been established to make key decisions on the integrated heritage conservation, management, planning and development of the Anuradhapura Sacred Area in implementing development programmes, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.
Acting Chief Prelate of the Atamasthana, Chief Incumbent of the Ruwanweli Maha Seya, Chancellor of Rajarata University, General Secretary of the Maha Vihara Sangha Council and Chief Sanghanayake of the North Central Province, Most Venerable Ethalawetunuwewe Gnanathilaka Thera, and Chief of Staff to the President Prabath Chandrakeerthi will serve as Co-Chairpersons of the Council.
The Council comprises 32 members, including Chief Incumbent of the Abhayagiri Chaitya, Director of the Postgraduate and External Degree Programme Unit of the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka, Venerable Professor Kallanchiyе Rathanasiri Thera, Chief Incumbent of the Thuparamaya, Venerable Kahalle Gnaninda Thera, and former Deputy Secretary of the Maha Bodhi Society of India and resident monk of the Bomaluwa Temple, Venerable Dr Kahatagollаwe Medhankara Thera.
The membership also includes Director Generals of relevant institutions, government officials and academics.
The Council has been entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that development activities within the sacred area are carried out through a coordinated decision-making mechanism, while safeguarding its archaeological, historical, religious and cultural heritage, the statement said.
The other members include Additional Secretary (Sacred Sites Division) of the Ministry of Buddhasasana Samanti Nagasthenna, Additional Secretary (Development) of the Ministry of Urban Development Tharanee Anoja Gamage, Director General of the National Commission for UNESCO Professor Prabath Jayasinghe, Director (Conservation) of the Department of Archaeology Prasanna Ratnayake, botanist Bhatia Sumithra Arachchi, Dr Rathnasiri Premathilaka, Adviser to the Ministry of Buddhasasana and former Director General of Archaeology Professor Jagath Weerasinghe, Professor Malinga Amarasinghe of the University of Kelaniya, President of the Sri Lanka Council of Archaeologists Professor R.M.M. Chandraratne, former Professor of History at Rajarata University Professor Ariya Lagemuwa, retired Professor of Intangible Heritage at the University of Kelaniya B.D. Nandadeva, President of the Sri Lanka Institute of Town Planners Y.A.D.K. Gunathilake, and President of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects, Chartered Architect Dilummini de Mel.
The remaining members comprise the Mayor of Anuradhapura, Anuradhapura District Secretary, Director General of the Department of Archaeology, Director General of the Central Cultural Fund, Director General of the Department of National Physical Planning, Director General of the Urban Development Authority, Director General of the National Planning Department, Deputy Inspector General of Police for Anuradhapura, Divisional Secretary of Nuwaragam Palatha Central, Provincial Engineer of the North Central Provincial Irrigation Department, Municipal Commissioner of Anuradhapura, Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Executive Engineer of the North Central Provincial Road Development Authority, Electrical Engineer of the Lanka Electricity Company (Private) Limited in Anuradhapura, and Regional Manager of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board in Anuradhapura.
