15th May 2022 13:37:22 Hours
The oldest cave temple complex in the Sabaragamuwa Province, Kuragala, the ancient Buddhist monastery, known as Kuragala Rajamaha Viharaya, which has a proud history of over 2300 years, turned a new lease of life on this Thrice Blessed Day (Vesak), thanks to the dedicated incumbency of Ven Waturakumbure Dhammaratana Thera and unfailingly committed contribution of Army troops for major share, devout Buddhists and Civil Defence Service personnel in less than a year.
This Buddhist religious site of archaeological value that speaks a legacy running into the prehistoric times on Sunday (15) saw this year’s National ‘Vesak’ Commemoration Ceremony - 2022, held with pomp and pageantry with the participation of a massive gathering of devotees, including General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, State officials, Senior Army and Civil Security Department Officers, Other Ranks and a representative gathering of donors, Media fraternity and Buddhist donors including Mrs Disna Wanigasekera and Mr Chandrasena Wickremaratne
At the outset, General Shavendra Silva was invited by the incumbent monk to vest the newly- built flight of entrance stairs to the Lion Statue, Samadhi Buddha Statue and the entire complex in the Buddha Sasana as the first segment of the day’s itinerary after piercing a garland made of while flowers.
Responding to Media, General Shavendra Silva had this to say :
“ I pay gratitude to the tireless dedication and perseverance of the incumbent monk, Ven Waturakumbure Dhammaratana Nayake Thera who assured that the project would be completed within a year. He turned to the Army and the Civil Security Department for assistance. The Army has assisted the development of more than 200 Buddhist temples as well as Catholic, Hindu and Islamic places of worship when our assistance was sought. This is a special project and our determined troops in line with the “Nothing is impossible” concept contributed their manpower, technical and engineering skills and unfailingly completed the planned construction, proving that the Army can accomplish any task as protectors of the country,” General Shavendra Silva added.
“Blessings and merits of this meritorious act, as I believe, would help all Sri Lankans to overcome prevailing economic constraints and difficulties, and we, members of the tri services with the Police, were able to bring normalcy to the country within 24 hours after the recent unfortunate clashes. I strongly believe all these merits and blessings would strengthen us to bring peace and prosperity to the country enabling all of us to raise our heads again and shine before the international community as a united Nation in time to come,” he remarked.
Updated stories and photos of other inaugurations follow.
