The annual Army flag blessing religious ceremony, the precursor to the forthcoming Army Day (10th October) and its 61st 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 all 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 spectacular ceremony at the most sacred Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya.
At the inauguration of the day’s ceremonies, in conformity with age-old Buddhist traditions, the Commander called on the Atamasthanadhipathi (chief prelate) at his monastery and respectfully 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 Lieutenant General Jayasuriya symbolically placed those flags at the foot of the historic Bodhiya where thousands of jasmine and lotus flowers had been spread as offerings adding a picturesque spectacle.
Members of the Maha Sangha performing religious rites afterwards chanted Seth Pirith and invoked blessings on the Army 61st Anniversary and the organization’s onward march, committed to protect 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 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.
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.
On a concept of Ven. Pallaegama Sirinivasa Nayaka Thero plans are underway to plant twenty two Bo saplings around Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi as protective Bo trees and the first of these saplings was planted by Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya this morning on the outskirts of Udamaluwa. Ven. Pallaegama Sirinivasa Nayaka Thero intends to complete planting all twenty two saplings through the Army.
As the next leg of the ceremony 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 and Chief Sangha Nayake of Nuwara Kalaviya, Ven. Relapanave Dhammajothi Thero, incumbent Lankarama and Adhikarana Sangha Nayaka for North Central Province, Ven Eethalavetunawewe Gnanathilaka Thero, incumbent Mirisavetiya Vihara, Ven Nugethenne Pagnananda Thero incumbent Buddhajayanthi Vihara and Chief Sanga Nayaka Nuwargampalatha, Chief of Staff and a host of Army senior officers were associated with the event at Anuradhapura.
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