{"id":98098,"date":"2020-01-22T16:04:20","date_gmt":"2020-01-22T23:04:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=98098"},"modified":"2020-01-22T16:04:20","modified_gmt":"2020-01-22T23:04:20","slug":"tamil-terrorists-attack-dalada-maligawa-january-251998","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2020\/01\/22\/tamil-terrorists-attack-dalada-maligawa-january-251998\/","title":{"rendered":"TAMIL TERRORISTS ATTACK DALADA MALIGAWA: JANUARY 25,1998"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. Daya Hewapathirane<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

Twenty-two years ago, on Sunday January 25th 1998 around 6:30 am, the ruthless Tamil terrorists attacked the Sri Dalada Maligawa – one of the most valued national cultural treasures of Sri Lanka.\u00a0Built originally in the late 15th century, this fabulous architectural marvel is more than 550 years old, In the centuries that followed, additions and improvements were\u00a0 effected to the Maligawa by several kings making it one of the most captivating historic buildings in the country. This magnificent structure enshrines the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha which is the most sacred object of worship in the Buddhist world. It is of utmost symbolic value for Buddhists and the Nation as a whole, because from historic times the possession and custodianship of the Sacred Tooth Relic was tantamount to acquisition of the sovereignty of the nation. It was first brought to Sri Lanka in the fourth century CE and has been treated with utmost veneration by our kings of the past. The possession of the Sacred Tooth Relic was required for a king to be acknowledged as the ruler of the country.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SAVAGE ACTION OF TAMIL\nTERRORISTS  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nsavagely cruel and violent actions that were characteristic of the Tamil\nterrorists reached their highest levels with this ghastly event of bombing the\none of the most sacred places of veneration of Buddhists across the world. Structures\nand historic monuments associated with the entrance to the Maligawa were\nsubject to most severe damage. In addition the blast led to the demolition of a\ngood part of the roof and the exposure of the Maligawa to the open sky.  Extensive peeling off of the wall plaster resulted\nin the destruction of exquisite paintings that adorned these walls besides\ndamage to other priceless artifacts of the Maligawa. Several pilgrims including\nchildren who were at the Maligawa died on the spot along with several police\npersonnel providing security at the Maligawa entrance at this time.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reacting to this ghastly act of\nTamil terrorists, UNESCO Director General Mr. Federico Mayor said “I am deeply shocked by this act of blind violence perpetrated\nagainst a place of meditation, joy and peace. All religions are based on love\nand respect for life. Attacking a holy place means striking the very best in\nhumanity, undermining its innocence and purity. Those who attack people through their faith can only be condemned.\nReligious differences can absolutely not be justification for conflict, and\nplaces of worship should in no case be used as targets.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRICELESS CULTURAL WEALTH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The bomb attack resulted in the disintegration of all the\nenchanting paintings of the \u2018Ambarawa\u2019 that belonged to the 17th<\/sup> -18th\ncentury period. Ambarawa is at the entrance to the Maligava in the form of a tunnel.\nIts entire curved surface was vibrantly adorned with colourful paintings. Also,\nthe blast destroyed the enchanting Sandakada Pahana (moonstone) built in\nkeeping with the unique Mahanuwara tradition, at the entrance to the Ambarawa\nand damaged the granite rock pillars adorned with delicate and exquisite rock\ncarvings of intricate traditional motifs. Passing the Ambarava one enters the\n\u2018Hevisi Mandapaya\u2019 (the open verandah-like area) with pillars where \u2018pujas\u2019 (offering)\nand drumming are performed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides the damages to the priceless cultural wealth\nassociated with the Ambarawa, the blast resulted in the total destruction of\none of the most precious items of the Maligawa \u2013 the historic moonstone that\nwas found at the main entrance to the Maligawa. It was one of the few most\nenchanting moonstones bearing the design and shape of Mahanuwara moonstone\ntradition, somewhat similar to the one at the entrance to the Degaldoruwa\nvihare. The destroyed moonstones and other rock structures have been replaced\nwith new ones bearing the same shape and design and the \u2018Ambarawa\u2019 paintings\nhave been re-drawn. However, can they ever replace these invaluable historic treasures\nthat glorified and embellished this cultural paradise?  Many ancient ola palm leaf manuscripts and\ndelicate traditional ornaments and artifacts stored in the Pattirippuwa\noctagonal building were destroyed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Except for some structural damages to\nthe plasters and walls and dislodging of parts of the carved wooden ceiling\nstructures, most miraculously the ancient inner relic chamber structure at the\ncentre of the Maligawa building where the Sacred Tooth relic was housed\nremained intact. When conservationists sifted through the rubble after the\nterrorist attack, they made an unexpected discovery. Beneath the existing wall\npaintings, two earlier layers of plaster with paintings were detected. Images of an elephant and a\ndancer’s leg were revealed which appear to be a part of a wider artistic\ncomposition of a ceremonial pageant. This painting is attributed to the\nbeginning of the 18th<\/sup> century, to the period of King Narendrasinha. Fragments of these paintings are\ndisplayed today in the new Maligawa museum, along with pictures of the destruction\nwreaked by the terrorist attack. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

EXCEPTIONAL PAINTINGS OF\nMALIGAWA <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The earliest paintings of the period of the Mahanuvara\nkingdom are in the inner chambers of the Dalada Maligawa. They were completed\nduring the reign of king Wimaladarmasuriya -II (1687-1707). Other paintings in\nthe old Maligava building were done during king Kirthisri Rajasinghe\n(1747-1786). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In\nfront of the \u2018hevisi mandapaya\u2019 is the two storied building where the Tooth\nrelic of the Buddha is enshrined.  This\nwas built by king Narendrasinghe who ruled from 1707-1739. The intricately\ncarved wooden structures decorating the upper portion of the outer walls of the\ntwo storeys also contain exceptionally captivating paintings. Some of these\npaintings were done on plaster applied over wooden surfaces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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On the walls and ceilings of both floors of this\nbuilding are paintings, which are exquisite. The wooden structures of the upper\nportions of the outer walls of the two storeys are decorated with intricate\ncarving. Paintings found in these structures are exceptionally captivating. . <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of the Maligava paintings are elaborate, thematic\nor decorative ones. Those decorating the walls and ceiling of the inner relic\nchamber are most breathtaking. There are paintings of beautiful designs using\nhuman figures. animals, birds, and flowers. Some are found on the carved\nwooden ceiling structures associated with the relic chamber. Among some especially\nappealing paintings found here are those depicting King Wimaladarmasuriya-I\n(1591-1604), King Kirthisri Rajasinghe, Weliwita Saranankara thera, jataka\ntales and the Esala perahera. Paintings of the Suvisi Vivarana\u201d or the 24\nformer Buddhas, deities and heavenly beings are gorgeous. A particularly\nstriking painting in one of the Shrine rooms with a Buddha image is a stunning\nMakara Thorana\u201d which is a great work of art. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nDalada Maligawa museum established in recent years on the upper floor of the\nMaligawa Annex displays segments of the painting layers damaged by the bomb\nblast and photographs of some of the damaged original paintings of the\nMaligava. Photographs of fragments of paintings of inner wall surfaces that\nwere exposed as a result of the peeling off of walls owing to the bomb blast,\nare also exhibited in this museum. Canvas replicas of some enchanting Maligawa\npaintings destroyed by the bomb blast adorn the stairways leading to the\nMuseum.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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GREATEST OF NATIONAL TREASURES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha venerated by\nBuddhists all over the world is enshrined in this fabulous building. It is of\nutmost symbolic value for Buddhists and the Nation as a whole. Besides, the Dalada\nMaligawa is also famous internationally for it colourful 10 day procession\ncalled the Dalada Perahera, which has an unbroken tradition extending up to the\n4th c .CE. This captivating and delightful pageant has been conducted for the\npast 1700 years in several historic capitals in the country, when it was\ncustomary for our kings to built special Dalada Maligava structures in those\ncapitals to enshrine the Tooth relic. Sri Dalada Maligawa is one of the greatest\nnational cultural treasures of our country and should receive the highest level\nof protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Daya Hewapathirane<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dr. Daya Hewapathirane Twenty-two years ago, on Sunday January 25th 1998 around 6:30 am, the ruthless Tamil terrorists attacked the Sri Dalada Maligawa – one of the most valued national cultural treasures of Sri Lanka.\u00a0Built originally in the late 15th century, this fabulous architectural marvel is more than 550 years old, In the centuries that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[101],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-98098","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dr-daya-hewapathirane"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98098","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98098"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98098\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98098"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98098"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98098"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}