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Sivalingam which was in worship in pre - Portuguese period, a Nandi and a Ganesha images were discovered near the old foundations of what is believed to be the old Temple site. It was recorded in contemporary press that Mr. Pasupathy Chettiar of Jaffna, Honorary Treasurer of the Saivaparipalana Sabai, took Kurukkals, temple architects, masons, and labourers from Jaffna to Thiruketheeswaram and spent eight months in the fever - infested jungle between January and August 1894 to conduct investigations and construct a small new Temple on the old site, most of which still survive. The Naddukoddai chettiars both in Jaffna and in Colombo took an interest in this Temple from the beginning. Subsequently, the Temple itself came under the management of the Old and New Kathiresan Temples of Colombo. At present, it is under the management of a Panchayat of the Thiruketheeswaram Temple Restoration Society on which, by a rule of the Society, the two Colombo Temples will always have representation. The present Shrines which were consecrated on 28th June, 1903, had gone into disrepair by the passage of time and were renovated (without any additions or structural improvements) in August 1952 at the instance of the Thiruketheeswaram Temple Restoration Society, which had its beginnings at a meeting of the Hindus in Colombo on October 19, 1918. This enables the poojas and worship to be continued uninterrupted, for the time being, in the central Shrines while the work of reconstruction goes on with the prakaram shrines, Thirumathil (inner boundary wall) and Rajagopuram. The erection of new Eeshvara and Ambal shrines and their respective Artha Mandapams are due to be taken up shortly and constructed “entirely in dressed granite stones." When these are completed Phase I of the constructions will be over. Phase II of the constructions will comprise the Outer (or Vahana) Weedi with the outer boundary wall with the necessary gopurams on all four sides including one of seven tiers at the eastern entrance. In the Eastern Courtyard of the Outer Weedi there will be the ' Utsava Mandapam ' (Vasantha Mandapam) and other attendant buildings. Outside the outer wall come the Ther (Car) Weedi, which will have a large open area in the east to accommodate a large concourse of devotees. The surrounding lands have been laid out with intersecting roads to provide for flower gardens, parks and groves, madams and chatirams, and residences for priests, devotees, and temple servants. A Vedapadasalai (school for religious studies) and retreats for Rishis have also not been forgotten. These plans, which have been prepared with the best advice available in South India and Ceylon of religious divines, Kurukkals and temple architects, may not amount to much when compared with the glories of the past, but by Grace of Gouri Ambal Sametha, Thiruketheeswaranathar, will present the most complete and beautiful Siva Temple in Ceylon.

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RgfpUJ tUlk; itfhrp - Mdp 2022

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