Kalametiya birding is not a new thing among local and worldwide birding community. If you are a travelers who has taken the Kalametiya Birding Safari, you must be remembering the beautiful Vehera Navaya just before the boat yard. Due to getting exposed to rain and sun along with salt mixed winds from the seas nearby, Vehera Navaya was in a dire need for a new paint layer to stand in its former glory.
Believed to be the stupa bearing the container (“Karandu”) which was bearing the holy hair relic of lord budda is believed to be in the Stupa. Where the “Karandu” Stayed as a heirloom of Thapassu Bhalluka merchant family, during a sales travel had to keep the Karandu on the top of a rock surface where the stupa is today. It us believed that an goddess nearby made a wish that they wont be able to remove the said Karandu so she cam worship it daily. It is believed that King Gotabaya build the stupa you see today in 5th Centaury.
In September 2023, a group of youngsters lead by son in law to owner of Grand Villa Kalametiya, came to Kalametiya to take over the repainting project of Vehera Navaya.
The group of youngsters who as a hobby move around the country on their spare time, engaging in charitable activities, took on the challenge of painting the Stupa while Mr. Anil Weeraratne, owner of the Grand Villa stepped forward to host the group until the end of the project with Food and Lodging. The villagers stepped forward to assist with refreshments and lend a helping hand time to time.
While the team succeeded to scrape off the old paint in couple of days time with the help of villagers who volunteered to help, the rain came as a blessing for next couple of days to wash away all the dirt from the Stupa after all the scrapings took place. Giving another week for the Stupa to dry team came back to Kalametiya to finish the paint project. The team managed to paint the main stupa and small eight stupas making the Vehera Navaya Rise to its former glory.
After about two weeks of effort, and painting assistance from two professional painters who volunteered to help, the team manage the complete the project and see the end result of glowing Kalametiya Vehera Navaya mixing with beautiful clouds making it a tremendous view to the people who has seen the old discolored stupas.
Project Carried out by:
Financial Benefactors – Mr. and Mrs. Perera | Team – Thisura kithmal, Vinuja Vikmal, Buddhi Ariyapala, Lahiru Ishara
Accommodation and food – Grand Villa Kalametiya
Grand Villa Kalametiya - Luxury Birding Bungalow & Ayurvedic Spa 