A high-level government delegation, including the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, convened an inter-departmental planning conference in Kurunegala today, September 24, 2026, to finalize the sustainable tourism master plan for the historic Ridi Viharaya.

Dating back to the reign of King Dutugemunu in the 2nd century BC, the silver-ore rock cave temple is renowned for its Kandyan-period fresco murals and sacred monastic heritage. The development framework incorporates non-intrusive stone-paved visitor pathways, multilingual digital interpretive kiosks, and dedicated eco-buffers to shield the surrounding natural forest canopy, positioning the temple as a premier cultural tourism destination in the North Western Province.