Noh Na Paknam, a prolific writer, art historian, and preservationist, visited Wat Sala Pun on 8 November 1966 CE. He was not at all amused by the ongoing renovation and recorded the following:
“Today, we went to Wat Sala Pun. The main temple building is undergoing restoration and renovation, yet there were no officials from the Fine Arts Department or art experts supervising the work. As a result, the temple building has been severely damaged and altered, a truly heartbreaking sight. It makes me think that in our country today, everyone works in a self-serving manner. Those responsible for this work turn a blind eye, believing there are no laws governing the situation. They don't care about the extent of the damage, considering it outside their duties, and they lack compassion. It's a pity that such a beautiful national treasure is being destroyed before our very eyes. It seems this concern is completely absent from the minds of those responsible.
In fact, Wat Sala Pun should have been registered as a national historical site long ago. I don't understand why the senior officials don't see the importance of the art and its historical significance there. It's quite strange. The wood carvings on the gable, the beautiful patterns on the ceiling brackets, and the stucco work throughout are all exquisite. These things have indeed been... It was renovated during the reign of King Rama IV. Still, the renovation at that time focused only on restoring the dilapidated parts, leaving the ancient ones untouched, so that the beautiful art of ancient Ayutthaya remains for us to admire.
Now he is restoring it haphazardly, according to the abbot's wishes, so the beautiful pillars beside the main chapel have been completely removed. On the gable, the poorly crafted celestial beings have been attached over the beautiful original wooden carvings. It is an extremely low and despicable act. No craftsman has taken responsibility for this. It is truly pathetic. The beautiful corbels that were once admired have now been painted yellow and have immediately become inferior.
These days, people not only lack the heart to respect ancient craftsmanship but also dare to touch and destroy their work. They also have such low taste that it is impossible to compare them to anything else. The destruction of Ayutthaya was not only the city itself, which the Burmese burned, but also the refinement of the spirit and the wisdom of aesthetic appreciation. It seems to have all vanished. Now, only low-class people from the forests and mountains remain, lacking the eyes or hearts to appreciate the high artistic skill of their ancestors. Or perhaps the Burmese have also ripped out their hearts? The outside of the temple is so battered, imagine what it's like inside. No matter how much I saw it, it made me not want to go inside the ordination hall. Enough is enough. I didn't want to be hurt any more.” [4]
