ANCL, CEB to sponsor Mihintale Aloka Pooja

Nimal Wijesinghe, Anuradhapura Additional district group correspondent

All arrangements are in place for the Mihintale Aloka Pooja jointly sponsored by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL) and the Ceylon Electricity Board at Mihintale from June 18.

Anuradhapura District Secretary H.M.K. Herath at a special discussion at the District Secretariat said the traditional Poson week long Pirith chanting would start on June 14.

It was decided to declare the week commencing from June 15 as the Poson religious festive week at the meeting.

All meat stalls and wine stores will be kept closed during the Week, Herath said.

North Central Combined Operations Commander Major General Sanath Karunaratne revealed that a tight security net will be in effect jointly with Armed Forces, Police and Civil Security Corps for the protection of devotees and religious places of worship in Anuradhapura and Mihintale.

Schools in the Anuradhapura city and Mihintale town will be closed during the week to provide accommodations to the security personnel.

It is expected that one million devotees would visit Anuradhapura Maha Mevuna Uyana and Mihintale Sacred City during the week.

Ven. Namalwewa Ratanasara Nayaka Thera, the Chief Incumbent of Mihintale Raja Maha Vihara, Chief Incumbent of Jethawanarama Ven. Ihala Halmillewe Ratanapala Nayaka Thera, Assistant District Secretary D.M. Abeyratne and DIG K.P.P. Pathirana were present at the meeting.