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ශ්‍රී ලංකා යුද්ධ හමුදාව

ජාතියේ ආරක්ෂකයා

Deeghawapiya Temple Receives Army Patronage for Its Development Work

Sri Lanka Army, which has been in the practice of lending all possible assistance to various places of religious significance, offered its patronage to the sacred Deeghawapiya at Ampara once again on Monday (25) when the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, called at the temple.

Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, who was in Ampara in the weekend to evaluate ongoing final touches of Army exhibits at the forthcoming ‘Deyata Kirula - 2013’ mega exhibition, took time off to visit this temple, consecrated by the visit of Gauthama Buddha, thousands years ago and held in high veneration.

Considering the remote nature of its geographical location and persisting constraints, Akkarapattu-based Task Force - 3 (TF-3) troops since their arrival in Ampara upon successful completion of the humanitarian operations, have been all out to renovate or restore neglected and dilapidated Hindu Kovils, Buddhist temples and Mosques in the region on the directions of the Commander of the Army up until now.

Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya during his stopover at the temple premises paid homage to the shrine and afterwards made a cash donation of Rs 1 lakh for its development work to the Deeghawapiya Chief Incumbent, Ven Thannpurawe Buddharakkitha Nayake Thero who in turn invoked blessings on the Army. Major General Lal Perera, Security Force Commander - East, Brigadier Haren Perera, Commander, Task Force - 3 and several senior officers were associated with the Commander’s visit to the place.

In the past four years, TF-3 troops with the support of the Army Headquarters and different religious organizations, including the Sri Sambodhi Maha Viharaya at Colombo 7, have attended to the renovation and restoration work of the Muhudu Maha Viharaya at Pottuvil, Punchi Sigiriya temple at Piyangala on Ampara - Mahaoya road, etc and the facilitation of conduct of all major Hindu Kovil ceremonies and Islamic festivals throughout the year.

Troops in addition, providing their expertise in masonry, carpentry, engineering and many other spheres, have so far volunteered to rebuild these places of spiritual advancement gratis, considering the historical and religious importance of these places, with funds generated from different donor agencies or their own sources.  

Several Field Commanders and Unit Commanding Officers were present at the Vihara premises.