05th November 2021 13:01:22 Hours
The re-awakened Kuragala Buddhist Temple which has been receiving Army manpower and technical expertise for its revitalization at the request of the incumbent is set to hold its first ‘Katina Cheevara Pooja’, (offer of new robes for rainy season) during 6-7 November at Kuragala Buddhist Temple premises.
Prior to the commencement of the main ceremonies at Kuragala, the venerated ‘Katina Cheevaraya’ was brought to the Sri Jayawardenepura Army Headquarters on Thursday (4) evening in a colourful procession for offerings and was devotedly received by General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, together with Mrs Sujeewa Nelson, President, Army Seva Vanitha Unit and several Senior Officers, including the Chief of Staff, Major General Priyantha Perera, Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, Major General Vikum Liyanage, Chairman, Army Buddhist Association, Major General Sujeewa Senerath Yapa, Commander, Security Forces - West.
The ‘Katina Cheevaraya’ thus brought to the Army Headquarters in the procession, headed by Major General Sujeewa Senerath Yapa was subsequently handed over to General Shavendra Silva at the main entrance to the Commander’s Secretariat. Afterwards, the venerated object was placed for religious observances on the special dais in the presence of the gathering at the location.
After a while, Ven Walpola Gothama Thero who administered religious rites and rituals in the brief ceremony extolled the Army’s contribution to the revival of the Buddhist Temple at Kuragala. Placing the venerated object symbolically on the head of General Shavendra Silva, the administering monk,officiated the arrangements in the ‘Pinkama’ at the Army Headquarters.
Several Senior Officers and a representative gathering of Officers and Other Ranks, including the Regimental Sergeant Major at the Army Headquarters were associated with the evening’s ceremony.
