Header

Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

Commander Inaugurates 62nd Anniversary Celebrations as All Army Flags Flutter at Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi


THE ANNUAL ARMY FLAG BLESSING religious ceremony, the precursor to the forthcoming Army Day (October 10) and the Army 62nd Anniversary celebrations started off this morning (1) at the most sacred Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi precincts, headed by Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army.

As has been the practice every year, members of the Maha Sangha, led by Ven. Pallegama Sirinivasabhidana Nayaka Thero, Atamasthanadhipathi and Chief Sangha Nayake for North Central Province after all the Army Flags, representing the Army Headquarters, Volunteer Force Headquarters, Security Forces Headquarters, Forward Maintenance Areas, Divisions, Task Forces, Area Headquarters, Sub-Area Headquarters, Brigades, Regiments, Units and Army Training schools, were symbolically taken in a colourful procession, invoked blessings on the Army while making offerings to the Sri Maha Bodhiya.  

Before the inauguration of the day’s religious rites and rituals, the visiting Commander called on the Atamasthanadhipathi (chief prelate) in conformity with age-old Buddhist traditions, and offered a tray of betel (dehet wattiya) and Atapirikara to the Nayake Thero respectfully inviting the Maha Sangha to commence the day’s religious observances.  

Respective flags were first laid at the upper layer (Udamaluwa) of this sacred place by Senior Officers for blessings after the flags were taken thrice around the historic Bodhiya. Later on, the Commander of the Army symbolically placed those flags at the foot of the historic tree where thousands of jasmine and lotus flowers remained spread as offerings.

Members of the Maha Sangha performing religious rites chanted Seth Pirith and invoked blessings on the Army 62nd Anniversary and the organization’s onward march.

Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, appreciative of the treasured unfailing support, shown by the Sangha fraternity for generations towards protection of this historic place of worship afterwards made a cash donation of Rs 1 million towards its continued conservation to Ven. Pallaegama Sirinivasa Nayaka Thero, Atamasthanadhipathi and Chief Sangha Nayake for North Central Province.  

 Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya and the representative gathering of Senior Officers of the Sri Lanka Army, accompanied by many soldiers took part in those religious observances.  

Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Nayake Thero, incumbent, Ruwanweli Maha Seya, Chief of Staff, Army Headquarters and a host of senior Army officers were associated with the event at Anuradhapura.