Army Commander Donates Rs 1 m to Sri Maha Bodhi During Inaugural Religious Observances

THE ANNUAL ARMY FLAG BLESSING religious ceremony, the precursor to the forthcoming Army Day and Army 60th Anniversary celebrations got underway this morning (2) at the most sacred Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi precincts, headed by Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army. 

As is the practice every year, 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 blessed by members of the Maha Sangha, led by Ven. Pallegama Sirinivasabhidana Nayaka Thero, Atamasthanadhipathi and Chief Sangha Nayake for North Central Province during a colourful spectacular.

At the inauguration of the day’s ceremonies, in conformity with age-old Buddhist traditions, the visiting Commander called on the Atamasthanadhipathi (chief prelate) and offered a tray of betel (dehet wattiya) and Atapirikara to the Nayake Thero inviting him to the inaugural offerings.  

Subsequently, 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 in procession. Later on Commander of the Army symbolically placed those flags at the foot of the historic Bodhiya where thousands of jasmine and lotus flowers had been laid spread as offerings. 

Members of the Maha Sanga performing religious rites afterwards chanted Seth Pirith and invoked blessings on the Army 60th Anniversary and the organization’s onward march, committed to protect the territorial integrity of this Island-nation.

Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, appreciative of the treasured service and dedication, shown by the Sangha fraternity for generations towards protection of this historic place of worship afterwards made a 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 the offerings and religious observances.  

As the second leg of the ceremony, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army took time off and mingled with hundreds of soldiers present on the occasion to share a couple of thoughts with them during refreshments that had been organized at the conclusion of the day’s proceedings. 

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