The foundation stone was laid to start the construction work for development of Most Ven Maduluwave Sobitha Thero Village (Elapathagama) in Anuradhapura District.

The foundation stone was jointly laid by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Minister of Housing and Construction Sajith Premadasa and Acting High Commissioner of India Arindam Bagchi in presence of Minister of Land and Parliamentary Reforms Mr. Gayantha Karunathilake, Minister of Primary Industries Mr. Daya Gamage Minister of Social Empowerment Mr. P Harrison.

Several Members of Parliament, senior Officials from Government of Sri Lanka, Board members of Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero Commemoration Foundation and a large number of public also participated in the event. 

The village will be developed using a grant of Rs. 300 million from the Government of India.  The project envisages construction of 153 new houses, a multipurpose community building and alms hall, internal water supply system and renovation of Monk’s Quarters & library.

The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, in a statement, said this project was part of India's development cooperation with Sri Lanka.

Ministry of Housing and Construction is the Implementing Partner from the Government of Sri Lanka for this project. In addition to the above project, in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Construction two other projects to construct model villages in each district and model villages in Southern Province of Sri Lanka comprising of a total of 1200 houses are also under progress.