Special Presidential Accolade awarded to Deshamanya Dharmadasa

Nawaloka Group of Companies Chairman Deshamanya H.K. Dharmadasa was awarded the Special Presidential Accolade of Sasana Maamaka Maha Danapathi by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga at a special ceremony at President's House, Colombo on Thursday.

This honour was accorded to him in recognition of his outstanding service to the religious and national uplift.

President Kumaratunga also presented him a gilded Buddha statue. The ceremony was conducted under the auspices of Ven. Dharanagama Kusaladhamma Nayaka Thera, Viharadhipathi of the Sri Sambodhi Viharaya, Colombo.

The President offered a copy of the Thripitakaya translated into English by Manirathana Bunnaga Dhamma Society under the patronage of the Royal Family of Thailand, to be deposited in the International Repository of Dhamma Books being constructed at the Sambodhi Viharaya under the sponsorship of Deshamanya Dharmadasa.

The English version of the Thripitakaya was the one gifted to President Kumaratunga by Thai Princess Kalyani Bhagana when she visited Sri Lanka recently. The donation was accepted by Ven. Kusaladhamma Nayaka Thera.

President Kumaratunga also donated Rs. 2 million from the President's Fund for the establishment of the proposed Dharma Pusthakala Mandiraya of the Sambodhi Viharaya, which will be named after the late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

The launching of the book Sulthanagoda Sita Nawalokaya Dakwa illustrating the life story of Deshamanya Dharmadasa, written by Nandasena Suriyaarachchi, Sadaham Suwanda embodying works by Ven. Dharanagama Kusaladhamma Thera, and a CD containing the English Dhammapada Sermons by the late Ven. Piyadassi, the Viharadhipathi of Vajiraramaya, Colombo, took place at the ceremony.

The CD, some of which were distributed among the participants is intended to be distributed among the public free, in memory of Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

The President paid tributes to Ven. Dharanagama Kusaladhamma Nayaka Thera and Deshamanya Dharmadasa for their dedication to uplift Theravada Buddhism and their contribution towards religious and social activities. The Maha Sangha led by Ven. Kusaladhamma Nayaka Thera, family members of Deshamanya Dharmadasa and President's Secretary W.J.S. Karunaratne participated.