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ANCL, CEB and SLRC to sponsor Mihintala Aloka Pooja program

by Ananda Pathiraja and Walter Dayaratne in Anuradhapura

The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd (ANCL), Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) will jointly sponsor the 39th annual Mihintala Aloka Pooja program to be held at the Mihintale sacred area during the Poson season this year.

This decision was taken at a special meeting held at Anuradhapura recently to finalise arrangements for this historic event to be held under the patronage of Mihintale Raja Maha Viharadhipati, Ven. Namalwewe Dharmakeerthi Sri Ratanajoti Ratanasara, Chief Sanghanayake Thera of the Nuwaragam Palatha.

It was also decided at this meeting to expand the membership of the Aloka Pooja Board of Trustees from 5 to 7 with the inclusion of the General Manager of the CEB and the Director General of the SLRC as ex-officio members.

The proposal to this effect has made by Ven. Ratanasara and seconded by Public Trustee Sarath Seneviratne.

A special electricity system will be set up at the Mihintale sacred area at a cost of Rs. 10 million to ensure a permanent electricity supply to the area without any hindrance from the Islandwide power cut. It was disclosed at this meeting. As this will not cover the Mihintala Seya a separate electricity system to illuminate the seya will be installed at a cost of Rs. 3.6 million before Poson Poya this year. It was also decided to illuminate the Uda Maluwa, Meda Maluwa and the Mihindu Perahera route during Poson. The Committee would take a final decision regarding the organisation of the Mihindu Perahera after consulting the ANCL Chairman.

The committee also decided that a single agency should operate the public address system in the sacred area during poson as the use of individual public address systems by different parties had led to confusion during previous years. As such only the SLRC will be allowed to operate the public address system during poson this year.

The committee also decided to invite the Ministers of Power and Energy and Buddhasasana to inaugurate Poson illuminations on the first day, and to invite the Prime Minister and Ministers and MPs from the district to do the honours, on the 2nd day which is Poson poya day. The Anuradhapura GA and the chairmen of ANCL, CEB and SLRC will be invited to switch on illuminations on the third day.

The meeting was attended by Ven. Ratanajoti, Ven. Walawahengunawewe Dhammaratana Thera, ANCL Managing Director Sepala Perera, Secretary L. G. H. Jayaratne, General Manager B. A. Jinadasa, Budusarana Editor Ruwan Araththanage, Accountant Sarath Abeysinghe and officials of the CEB and the SLRC.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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