Kotmale Mahaweli Maha Seya is a recently built colossal Stupa located near the Kotmale Reservoir, in Nuwara Eliya District, Sri Lanka.
History
Kotmale Seya Stupa came into existence following an idea by Gamini Dissanayaka, the then Minister of the Mahaweli Development Project. It was built in memory of the submerged
temples and the people who had to leave their properties when the Kothmale
Reservoir was built. The Kotmale Reservoir project is one of five major projects that was
undertaken under the Mahaweli Development Scheme. Its dam was
constructed in 1979 and the water filling of the reservoir was started in 1984.
The construction work of the Kotmale Mahaweli Maha Seya Stupa was commenced in 1983, by then Sri Lanka President, J. R. Jayewardene (1977-1989). However, due to various circumstances, the completion of the Stupa was delayed for 33 years. On 20 June 2016, the completed Stupa was declared open by the then Sri Lanka president, Maithripala Sirisena.
Stupa
The Stupa is about 87.38 m tall (Abeyawardana, 2004) and has been built following the design of Ruwanweliseya in Anuradhapura.
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References
1) Abeyawardana, H.A.P., 2004. Heritage of Kandurata: Major natural, cultural and historic sites. Colombo: The Central Bank of Sri Lanka. pp.243-244.
Location Map
This page was last updated on 14 January 2023
