President ceremoniously opens the vestibule for historic Dimbulagala Aranya Senasanaya on Poson Poya

His Excellency, President Mathripala Sirisena ceremoniously inaugurated the vestibule for the Dimbulagala Aranya Senasanaya, a primary sculptured gateway referred to as the 'Wahalkada', its surrounding walls and the Piriven Dharmshala building during Poson Poya. The vestibule was inaugurated in the presence of Most Ven, Thirikunamale Ananada Thera, Mahanayake of Sri Amarapura Sharmarakshitha Sect and the Most Ven. Millane Siriyalankara Thera, Chief Sanghanayake of Sri Amarapura Dharmarakshitha Sect for Northern and Eastern provinces, Vice Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy , Ranjith Ariyaratne, Polonnaruwa District Secretary, Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Corporate Executive Vice President and Regional Chief Executive for South Asia, Axiata Group Berhad, Supun Weerasinghe, Group Chief Executive, Dialog Axiata PLC and Amali Nanayakkara, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC.

The 'Aranya Senasanaya' in Dimbulagala has been a primary location for religious activity and carries historic significance and value to Sri Lankans. The Dimbulagala forest hermitage was the foremost temple during ancient kingdoms and the rulers of the past extended state patronage to same. Home to historic ruins and a tourist attraction, the scared grounds of the Aranya Senasanaya in Dimbulagala will receive this enclosure as an effort to further preserve its value.

The ruins of Buddhist religious structures in the Dimbulagala area are of equal significance to those in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa and is listed by the Department of Archaeology under the antiquities ordinance.

Dialog Axiata was instrumental in funding the preservation efforts of the cultural heritage site towards the development of the 50 ft. structure and its surrounding walls. Initiated by President Mathripala Sirisena under the development project, Pibidemu Polonnaruwa, the project was supervised under the purview of the Divisional Secretariat with voluntary contribution of labour extended by the Navy and the design by the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development.