A RARE SPECTACLE of the closing session of a 12 month-long Pirith Chanting, conducted by members of the Maha Sangha at historic Ruwanweli Maha Seya was witnessed by none other than HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday (27) in the company of Mrs Shiranthi Rajapaksa, First Lady, Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence,  Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army, Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe, Commander of the Navy, Mr Karunarathna Divulgane, Governor for North Central Province, Mr Berty Premalal Dissanayake, Chief Minister for North Central Province, Major General Kamal Gunarathne, Commander Security Forces, Wanni, Mr Namal Rajapaksa, Chairman, Tharunyata Hetak, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, local politicians and a host of candidates contesting the forthcoming General Election.      

The Pirith Chanting, in front of the historic Ruwanweli Seya, began exactly a year ago on 27th February 2009 in order to invoke blessings on War Heroes, President and the motherland when the Wanni Humanitarian Operations against Tiger terrorists were at their peak saw its end on Saturday (27) with offer of alms to Maha Sangha numbering over 3,000 inside a specially constructed canopy, decorated with 1000s of Buddhist flags. Pirith chanting ceremony sponsored during the 12-month long period by a number of expatriates serving overseas saw President Rajapaksa and participating dignitaries offer Ata Pirikara to the Ruwanweli Maha Seya and pay respect to Vihara Maha Devi and Dutu Gemunu statues.

Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Nayake Thero, Chief Sangha Nayake, Nuwara Kalaviya and Chief incumbent, Ruwanweli Maha Seya highlighted the significance of the Pinkama and reminded that almost all large scale Pinkam of this nature used to receive the patronage of the royalties in the country in the past too as is the support being received at present by HE the President Rajapaksa for such meritorious acts.

Several prominent Buddhist monks, including Most Ven. Welamitiyawe Kusala Dhamma Nayake Thero, Ven. Niyangoda Wijithasiri Anu Nayake Thero, Ven. Nugathenne Pagnananda Thero, Ven. Eethalawetunuwewe Gnanathilake Thero and many other leading Buddhist monks attended the culmination of the Dolos Mahe Piritha and the Alms giving.