19th February 2021 11:08:51 Hours
General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army and Head of the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) in his capacity as Colonel of the Regiment, Gajaba Regiment (GR), extending a deep sense of gratitude to the memory of one of the prominent wartime 'Keterians' who laid his precious life in 1991 attended a commemorative ceremony this afternoon (17) at Kalutara, Palathota Thekkawatta 'Ananda Amarasinghe Gilan Bhikku Vivekarama' (Buddhist Monastic Sanatorium) premises.
Exactly 30 years ago on 17 February 1991, Gajaba Regiment Officer, Lieutenant Prasanna Ariyarathna of the Intake 31 of the Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) while fighting for the country's unitary status and territorial integrity fell victim to an LTTE terrorist attack in Silavathura, Kondachchi area in Mannar and succumbed to injuries. His parents since then have been holding numerous commemorative acts to transfer merits to his next birth.
Wednesday's 30th commemorative ceremony at this sacred premises invited the day's Chief Guest, General Shavendra Silva to unveil the new perimeter wall (Bodhiprakaraya) with gold-plated poles that surround the sacred Bodhiya and also the inner chamber of the new Dagoba (pagoda), both built by parents and family members of the fallen War Hero, Lieutenant Prasanna Ariyarathna, amid chanting of 'Seth Pirith' by members of the Maha Sangha, led by Ven. Thekkawaththe Pangnananda Nayake Thero, Advisor to the sanatorium, Chief Incumbent Ven Payagala Malegoda Srinandana and Ven Palathota Pangnananda Thero.
The day's Chief Guest was warmly received by family members and the Board of Management on arrival at the premises before he was ushered to the main shrine for offerings. The sanatorium run under the full supervision of the National Social Services Council of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress houses ailing and elderly buddhist monks who are in their dotage and fully dependent.
Enlisted to the Army on 20 January 1989, the fallen War Hero was fortunate to have undergone training course at the Pakistan Military Academy while being at the SLMA before he passed out in October 1990 and joined the 6 Gajaba Regiment.
Buddhist monks, relatives and invitees were present at the location. Mysneakers | 2021 New adidas YEEZY BOOST 350 V2 "Ash Stone" GW0089 , Ietp
