The Colossal 67.5 feet high Buddha Statue at Rambadagalla Vidyasagara Temple in the Rideegama DS division will be unveiled this afternoon, the Government Information Department said. This is considered to be the world's tallest rock-hewn seated Buddha image.

On the invitation of Rambadagalla Chief Incumbent Egodamulle Amaramoli Thero, in the presence of Maha Sangha inlcuding Mahanayake of Amarapura Chapter Aggamaha Panditha Most Ven. Dauldena Gnanissara Thera and Mahanayake of Ramanna Chaptor Agga Maha Panditha Most Ven. Napana Pemasiri Thera, the unveiling ceremony will be held under the auspices of President Maithripala Sirisena and Chief Minister of North Western Province Dayasiri Jayasekera on April 30 at 3.30pm.

Mahanayaka of Amarapura Ariyawansa Saddhamma Yukktika Maha Nikaya Egodamulla Amaramoli Thera, the chief incumbent of Vidyasagara Priven Vihara, Monaragala, Rambodagalla, Rideegama, Kurunegala was the driving force behind the construction of the giant Buddha statue.

The idea for the statue was first dawned on the chief prelate after the wanton destruction of the gigantic Buddha statues at Bamiyan in Afghanistan. As the scenes of destruction unfolded over TV, the Thera has resolved that he would do whatever possible to build a Buddha statue to rival those blown to oblivion by a group of religious extremists.

Amaramoli Thera's steady devotee and unfailing supporter has been Head of Eswaran Brothers D. Eassuwaren. He was primarily instrumental in obtaining the expert services of Master Stone Sculptor of India, Bharatha Padma Shri Muttiah Sthapathi, Government Information Department said.

Although his ancestors had participated in the sculptural works at Gadaladeni Vihara, Sthapathi had not executed any Buddha sculptures before. Stapathi rendered his services entirely free. He has characterized this Samadhi Buddha sculpture as his ‘masterpiece’.