Offer of a newly crafted gold-plated tray and a silver bowl to the most sacred Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of Tooth) for alms to coincide with His Excellency, the President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s assumption of office for the second term, took place Friday (19) evening in Kandy, with the participation of HE, the President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the First Lady Mrs Shiranthi Rajapaksa.
The Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, together with the cooperation of the Army Buddhist Association, Army Officers and Soldiers, organized this symbolic gesture of religious significance Friday (19) evening as a token of monumental respect to the temple at this historic moment of the country’s history.
The Army realizing the value of such a set of valuables to this sacred venue, in view of the worn-out nature of the utensils currently in use for alms-serving purposes, the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya instructed the Army Buddhist wing to explore possibilities for replacing them with a new set of utensils.
Those valuable new utensils, made of crafted silver and gold were accordingly presented by HE, the President to the custodian at the Temple of Tooth during a simple ceremony after religious observances at the premises. Those new utensils are to be used for the Maligawa alms-serving.
Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, symbolically handed over the donations to HE the President at first before they were respectfully handed over to the temple’s custodian, Diyawadana Nilame, Mr Nilangadela Bandara by HE the President in turn.
Mrs Shiranthi Rajapaksa, First Lady, Mrs Manjulika Jayasuriya, President Seva Vanitha Army Branch (SVAB) and a gathering of Senior Army officers and soldiers attended the occasion.
Governor for Central Province Tikiri Kobbekaduwa and a few more senior Ministers and state officials attended the occasion.
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