Published on - 2/2/2005
Troops of the Sri Lanka Army joined hands with thousands of tsunami- affected victims and mourners in Sri Lanka on Wednesday (26) in a monumental religious observance held at Panagoda Bodhirajaramaya (Army temple) where merits were transferred to the dead and blessings invoked on those bereaving and displaced. One hundred and twelve Officers and Other Ranks of the Armed Forces and the Police died in the tragedy in addition to twelve personnel who had hitherto gone missing.
Religious observances, organized under the auspices of Lieutenant General Shantha Kottegoda, Commander of the Army coincided with the completion of one-month after killer waves struck this island-nation claiming nearly half a lakh of Sri Lankan and foreign lives and causing irreparable losses and damages. Venerable Habarakada Vipulawansa Thera conducted the observances that included a Bodhi Puja, a Dhamma sermon, Offering of Gilan Pasa, Invoking of blessings on displaced and injured and the Transfer of merits to those perished in the disaster.
A representative gathering of troops headed by Major General G.B.W Jayasundera, Quarter Master General and President, Army Buddhist Federation, Brigadier H.L Weeratunga, Director, Pay & Records and Vice President Army Buddhist Federation, and several other Senior Officers were in attendance on the occasion.
The massive oceanic earthquake-sudden, unexpected, deadly-produced a tsunami that swept ashore in twelve countries, killing more than 200,000 people in a humanitarian disaster on 26 December 2004.
