Commander Venerates Kandy 'Sri Dalada' Temple & Receives Blessings of Malwatte & Asgiriya Prelates

The new Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva Sunday (25) morning paid his utmost respect to the sacred Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of Tooth) and received the blessings of Most Venerable Tibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thero of the Malwatte Chapter and Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Mahanayake Thero of the Asgiriya Chapter.

Major General Laksiri Waduge, Commander, Security Forces - Central, together with Major General Senarath Bandara, General Officer Commanding, 11 Division and Brigadier Sanath Aluvihare, Commander,111 Brigade warmly received the Commander of the Army, along with his accompanying spouse, Mrs Sujeewa Nelson, President Army Seva Vanitha Unit.

Lieutenant General Silva afterwards offered trays of jasmine flowers to the sacred precincts, performed religious observances and received blessings of the monks in charge of the rituals in the inner chamber. A few minutes later, Mr Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara, Diyawadana Nilame (lay chieftain) received the Commander of the Army and Mrs Nelson at his office and had a friendly exchange of views. Towards the end of the interactions, the Commander adding memories to the visit presented a memento to Mr Dela Bandara. The gesture was reciprocated.

During his audience with the Malwatte prelate, Most Venerable Sumangala Mahanayake Thero, the Commander received blessings and the prelate wished him well and expressed his happiness over his new appointment. The Prelate presented a replica of the Buddha to the visiting Commander as a symbol of memory of his visit to the Malwatte monastery.

Afterwards, the Commander and his retinue paid a courtesy call on the Most Ven Warakagoda Gnanarathana Thero, Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter at the Asgiriya temple. During the brief interaction, Most Ven Thero invoked blessings on his new appointment and wished him good luck with his future endeavours by presenting a replica of the Buddha to the visiting Commander as a memento. At both temples in Malwatte and Asgiriya, the Commander was invited to place his memorable compliments in the visitors' books. Sports Shoes | Air Jordan