A preliminary discussion on the proposal to develop the historic Ridi Viharaya in Kurunegala as a tourist destination was held yesterday afternoon (23) at the Presidential Secretariat, under the chairmanship of Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs Namal Sudarshana and Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Discussions focused on further enhancing the tourism appeal of Ridi Viharaya, a popular attraction in the Kurunegala District of the North Western Province, by preparing systematic development plans centred on the temple while preserving its historical identity and the surrounding ecosystem.
Accordingly, it was decided to prepare plans within a short period in consultation with the relevant stakeholders and commence the proposed development activities.
The Chief Incumbent and Trustee of Ridi Viharaya, Ven. Thibbatuwawe Buddharakkhitha Thera, Ven. Ridigama Vanarathana Thera, Member of Parliament M. K. M. Aslam, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Suranjith Wawita, Director General (Planning), Tourism Divisionof the Ministry of Foreign Affairs H. P. Somathilaka, Deputy Chairman of SLAITO Nilan Wickramasinghe, President of the Ridi Viharaya Young Buddhist Association Upali Anura Pallemulla, Professor W. K. C. Gnanapala, Professor Mohammad Halim Mohammad Aslam, Ridigama Divisional Secretary Kushan Dhananjaya Wickramasuriya, Director of the Wayamba Tourism Authority A. Nalaka Sisira Kumara and a number of officials also attended the discussion.
