CONSTRUCTION of what will be the world’s biggest reclining Buddha image is more than 85 per cent complete and is expected to be finished in the next two years.

Located on the 500-acre grounds of the Win Sein Tawra meditation centre between the towns of Mawlamyine and Thanbyuzayat in Mon State, the image is 600 feet long and 100 feet high.

The structure includes three storeys of rooms under the image and five storeys inside the body, which contain a total of 182 rooms that will be decorated with images illustrating the lives of the Buddha.

Win Sein Tawra resident U Pandeiksa said the Buddha image is being constructed according to the guidelines of the Win Sein Tawra Saradaw, U Kaythara, who is now 86 years old.

He said construction progressed rapidly from its start 14 years ago until 2004 due to support from the government, which allowed the centre to buy cement at special rates far below prevailing market prices.

“Now construction is much slower, as it depends on the market price of cement and the amount of donation money available,” he said. “We would like to complete it while our honourable Saradaw is still alive.”