22nd June 2022 20:42:11 Hours
Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) as the Chief Guest, together with a distinguished gathering of invitees, including Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Army and service chiefs this morning (19) took part in a series of inaugural openings at the historic Sri Sunethra Devi Maha Pirivena complex at Pepiliyana at the invitation of Ven Dr Medagoda Abayatissa Nayake Thero, Senior Lecturer at the University of Sri J'Pura and Incumbent, Sunethra Devi Pirivena.
At the outset, the newly-constructed ‘Sambuddha Raja Mandapaya’, the pillared shrine of the Lord Buddha was vested in the Saasana by the day's Chief Guest, General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) upon unveiling of a plaque as members of the Maha Sangha chanted 'Seth Pirith'. The two storied structure has been built using timber of Arjun tree (Kumbuk) comprised of wood sculptures.
The Maha Nayake of the Asgiri Chapter, Most Ven. Warakagoda Gnanarathanabhidana Thero and the Anunayaka Thero of the Malwatte Chapter Venerable Dr. Niyangoda Dharmakeerthi Sri Sangarakkitha Vijithasiri theros presided the inaugural ceremony.Venerable Dr. Niyangoda Vijithasiri Thero ceremonially opened the new computer IT laboratory for the best interests of novice Bhikkhus arriving from different parts of the island and other students pursuing religious education at this Pirivena.
Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage handed over the keys of the new Sunday school building symbolically to the students while the Navy Commander Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne symbolically handed over keys of the refurbished Pirivena building complex to a novice monk. Around the same time, the Air Force Commander Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana was invited to inaugurate the playground.
Venerable Dr. Abayatissa Thero delivered the welcome address at the outset of the ceremony and also expressed his appreciation to those contributed in various capacities to this noble spiritual undertaking. Chief Incumbent at Watarappala Bauddhayatanaya in Mt. Lavinia Ven. Diviyagaha Yassassi Nayaka Thera, Ven Dr Bodagama Chandima Thera, Sangha Nayake of Taiwan, Diyawadana Nilame Nilanga Dela Bandara, Chancellor at KDU, Senior Officers, Invitees and devotees attended the ceremonies at Pepiliyana.
Historically-famed Pepiliyana Sunethra Devi Pirivena was constructed by King Parakrama Bahu VI of Kotte between 1410 and 1415 AD in honour of his loving mother, Queen Sunethra Devi. The King was a great warrior who united the country. The 600 year old Pirivena, one of Sri Lanka’s greatest spiritual and academic monuments, has rendered invaluable service to the field of Buddhist heritage and literature.
