27th July 2018 08:55:09 Hours
Consequent upon a request made by the Secretary of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Nikayarakshaka Sabha, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army directed Major General Santhusitha Pananwala, Commander, Security Forces - East and Major General Mahinda Mudalige, General Officer Commanding 24 Division to engage and assist the successful conduct of the 71st ‘Upasampada’ (Higher ordination) ceremony near the Uposhithagaraya (Hall for Higher Ordination) by the side of the Gal Oya reservoir during July 18-25.
A total of 400 Samaneras, qualified to receive the higher ordination were ordained in batches of 50 during those eight days. Most Venerable Napana Premasiri Nayake Thero led the formalities.
This was the first time it was held in Ampara in the history. On the directions of the Commander of the Army and the Commander Security Forces - East, troops under the 24 Division, together with Corps of Engineer Service Regiment gave their fullest contribution to swiftly finish the construction work of a two-storied building, including sanitary facilities, a vehicle park, an internal road network with interlock tiles at Buddhangala Dhaham Madura Temple and the upper storey of the Sri Vidyaraja Pirivena at Iginiyagala in order to comfortably accommodate all student monks coming for ordination. In addition, all the temples, schools and other government buildings which were utilized for this event were cleaned by the troops under 24 Division.
The Upasampada programme was ceremonially inaugurated in the presence of Hon. Karu Jayasuriya, Speaker of the Parliament, Hon. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Minister of Higher Education and Cultural Affairs, Hon. Daya Gamage, Minister of Social Welfare and Primary Industries, Hon. Anoma Gamage, Deputy Minister of Petroleum Resources Development, Hon. Rohitha Bogollagama, Governor of Eastern Province, Mr Thusitha P Wanigasinghe, District Secretary for Ampara, Senior DIG Mr. Kapila Jayasekara and Major General Mahinda Mudalige, General Officer Commanding 24 Division on 18 July.
Those student monks, Samaneras who were eligible to receive Upasampada came from every corner of the country. Running Sneakers Store | Nike Running
