The office of the Governor for North Western Province Mr Tissa R Balalla and members of the Kurunegala Sinhala Traders Association on Tuesday (17) evening separately held a Bodhi Pooja Pinkama and a felicitation ceremony at Kurunegala respectively to invoke blessings and felicitate the new Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, a native from Kurunegala area.
Lieutenant General Ratnayake, together with his spouse, Mrs Damayanthi Ratnayake on arrival at the Governor’s office of the North Western Province, was warmly received by members of the business community, old boys of the Commander’s alma mater, Maliyadeva College, staffers at the Governor’s Office and several other leading citizens in the heart of Kurunegala town.
Lieutenant General Ratnayake afterwards together with Mr Balalla, Governor, paid his obeisance to the members of the Maha Sangha who have arrived there to bless the Commander of the Army. Governor for North Western Province taking an exceptional interest in the conduct of a Bodhi Pooja to bless the new Commander, has made those arrangements. Paying his respect to the age-old sacred Bodhiya in the precincts, the Commander afterwards attended to religious observances, together with other devotees.
Leading Buddhist monks, including Ven. Elavitigama Indraratna Thero, Chief Sangha Nayake for Kurunegala District and Incumbent, Sri Sugatharamaya, Boyagoda, Wewuda, Ven. Muguluwatawana Siddhartha Thero, Chief Sangha Nayake for Wayamba Province and Incumbent, Tissawa Rajamaha Viharaya, Kosdeniya, Katupotha, Ven. Aanamaduwe Dhammadissi Thero, Secretary for Asgiriya Maha Vihara Chapter and Incumbent, Ethkanda Rajamaha Viharaya and Ven. Pandith Mahingamuwe Sumanajothi Thero, Co-Adikarana Sanghanayake for Devamedi Hatpattuwa, chanted Seth Pirith, and blessed the visiting Army Chief. Ven. Pandith Mahingamuwe Sumanajothi Thero, conducted the special Bodhi Pooja and invoked blessings on Lieutenant General Ratnayake’s new appointment before symbolically tying sacred Pirith thread.
The separate felicitation ceremony, organized by Kurunegala Sinhala Traders Association, the same evening (17) at ‘Seasons Hotel’ saw the Commander’s contribution to the liberation of the country hailed and appreciated by several speakers to the occasion.
On arrival, Chairman, Sinhala Traders Association, together with a representative gathering of officer-bearers of his Association warmly received Lieutenant General Ratnayake and Mrs Damayanthi Ratnayake and ushered them to the main hall in a colourful procession.
The formal welcome speech and a few more speeches delivered at the ceremony spoke of the Commander’s humble beginnings, school day memories, community services and his subsequent ascension to be the 20th Commander of the Army.
‘Ethugalpura name was twice honoured because of the appointment of Lieutenant General Ratnayake, our dear colleague to the office of the Commander of the Army who happens to be a native of our region, and our whole-hearted tribute should go to HE the President and the Secretary Defence for their most accurate choice. It is no exaggeration to state that the new Commander is a gentlemen with a vision and a leader with wisdom,’ the Chairman, Kurunegala Sinhala Traders Association, said in his speech to the occasion. Mr Balalla, Governor was also associated with the reception.
Later on, the Association presented a memento to the Commander who has made Kurunegala proud, having reached greater heights in his illustrious career. The day’s event concluded with a special note of thanks, delivered by the Commander, Chief Guest for the occasion before taking leave of them.
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