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Thai Premier visits Dipaduttarama Temple at Kotahena

by Ariyaratne Ganegoda

Thai Prime Minister Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra paid a visit to Kotahena Dipaduttarama Thai Temple, the first temple established in Colombo after the colonial period, which was constructed with funds donated by the Thai government.

The Thai PM was received at the main entrance of the temple by Power and Energy Minister, Karu Jayasuriya, Human Resources, Cultural Affairs and Education Minister, Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku, Colombo Mayor, Prasanna Gunawardena and Colombo District MP, K. B. Lilantha Perera.From there he was conducted in a colourful perahera with Kandyan and low country dancers.

The delegation was then offered baskets of lotuses by the members of Dayaka Sabha and the Kantha Samithiya and the delegation offered flowers to the Chaitya. Later the PM visited the Budu Medura (Shrine Room) and after worshipping the shrine the Maha Sangha headed by the Viharadhipathi chanted Seth Pirith to bless them.

The visiting PM then inspected the plans of the Thai-Sri Lanka Buddhist Friendship Training Centre and watered the red sandlewood tree and Madara tree planted by the then Thai King in 1931.

Before leaving Thai PM paid respects to the statue of Ven. Migettuwatte Gunananda Nayaka Thera and joked to pre-school children.

The ceremony was organised by MMC, Gamini Hemachandra and former MMC, Douglas Seneviratne.

Thailand Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Jerm Tivyanond, MMCs Stanley Christopher and Mahinda Thilakasiri and several others participated.

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