President visits Maligawa

BY L.B. WIJAYASIRI in Kandy

PRESIDENT Mahinda Rajapakse visited the Dalada Maligawa, Kandy yesterday and paid homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic and received the blessings of the Trivida Ratne to commence work for the New Year.

Accompanied by first lady Shiranthi, the President arrived at the Maligawa at 11.00 a.m. Diyawadana Nilame Nilanga Dela Bandara received them and conducted them to the inner shrine.

At the inner shrine, President Rajapakse performed a Special Pooja to the Sacred Tooth Relic. The Maha Sangha who performed Tewawa, chanted Seth Pirith and blessed the President.

President Rajapakse later called on the Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Maha Vihara chapter and the Most. Ven. Udugama Sri Ratanapala Buddharakkitha Mahanayake Thera of the Asgiriya Mahavihara chapter and received their blessings.

Scribes 'chased out'

AN hour before President Mahinda Rajapakse's arrival at the Maligawa, an officer in civil, said to be a senior officer of the PSD, chased media personnel present to cover the event saying "there are mediamen to cover the President. We don't want you all." He questioned as to who invited the media personnel to cover the event.

After a lengthy argument, the media personnel left the place.