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Ven. Dr. Welamitiyawe Kusaladhamma Nayaka Thera felicitated

by Nadira Gunatilleke

Ven. Dr. Welamitiyawe Dharmakeerti Sri Kusaladhamma Nayaka Thera has made several sacrifices during his fifty-year journey which started from the day he became a Buddhist monk.

He always offered productive ideas whenever the country and the citizens faced a crisis, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said.

She was addressing the felicitation ceremony organised by her to felicitate the most Ven. Dr. Welamitiyawe Dharmakeerti Sri Kusaladhamma Nayake Thera who was awarded `Aggamaha Saddhamma Jothika Dhaja' honourable title by the Myanmar Government.

The felicitation ceremony was held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday. The President said Ven.Kusaladhamma Thera has done a great service for the poor people, war heroes and to society in general through his community development programes. Receiving a honourable title from a country like Myanmar which has a long Buddhist history is a pride for Sri Lanka. "I wish long life for Ven.Kusaladhamma Thera and wish he would be able to continue his tremendous service for many more years to come", she added.

Addressing the felicitation ceremony Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that Buddhism is a religion that successfully faces any type of transformation. Buddhism will face all social, cultural and economic transformations taking place in the future. Ven. Dr. Welamitiyawe Dharmakeerti Sri Kusaladhamma Nayaka Thera successfully led the Vidyalankara Pirivena through all socio-cultural changes that took place in Sri Lanka.

He said that Ven. Kusaladhamma Thera has done a significant service towards the country and the Buddha Sasana as a teacher and Buddhist leader and will continue to do so. The Thera did not blame anyone for the social change and provided correct leadership to face it.

Ven. Kusaladhamma Thera is a good speaker and the service he has done towards education and literature is significant. The Thera did not run after posts and the posts came searching Ven. Kusaladhamma Thera. The Thera did not shine because of the posts but the posts shined because of Ven. Kusaladhamma Thera. He thanked the Government of Myanmar for presenting the Award for Ven. Kusaladhamma Thera and the President who organised the ceremony.

Ven. Dr. Welamitiyawe Dharmakeerti Sri Kusaladhamma Nayaka Thera said that he wished to thank President Chandrika Bandranaike Kumaratunga for organising the felicitation ceremony. " I have already received several honours similar to this title. It shows that my social service is being recognised. I know what responsibility is. I will not be able to become another Ven. Rathmalane Dhammarama Thera but I can follow in his footsteps", he said.

"I provided crutches and artificial limbs worth Rs. 1.73 million to the disabled war heroes. I collected all those donations from the well-wishers", he said.

Ven.Dr.Thumbulle Seelakkhana Nayaka thera delivered an Anusasana. The President presented the plaque, fan and Atapirikara to Ven. Kusaladhamma Thera. The Prime Minister presented Atapirikara to the Thera. Mahanayake Theras, Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, Ministers, MPs and several others were present on the occasion.

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