According to Sri Lankan building traditions, commencement of pouring of concrete for foundation footings is regarded as an important mile stone in the progress of work.

On 4 April 2011 this important stage of Dharmasalawa construction commenced with the presence of Venerable Banthes and a noticeable number of devotees.

The builder, Avant Constructions Pty Ltd has completed pile casting and other work up to ground level of the building and had placed the reinforcements for pile caps. Sri Lankan Buddhist Vihara Association Sydney Inc. (SLBVA) wanted pouring of concrete to be commenced with a religious ceremony in keeping with the traditions.

City Council official has checked the work and approved for concreting. The chief incumbent of Lankarama, Venarable Rajakeeya Panditha Meegahakumbure Dhammagavesi Thero sprinkled ‘pirith pan' over one pile cap to bless them and symbolically poured a bucket of concrete amidst chanting of ‘seth pirith' by other banthes. Rest of the devotees placed trowel full of concrete followed by the builder pumping in the concrete.

In spite of being midday of a working day, a fair crowd of devotees, including SLBVA president and few architects and engineers who contributed to work were present for the ceremony.

As always done at the end of ceremony like this, it concluded with another Sri Lankan tradition; sharing a plate of ‘Kiri buth' and ‘lunu miris' by the participants.

Click here to view an album of photos taken by Ranjith Wijayasekara