Religious ceremonies to mark Thera’s ninetieth birthday

Lakshmi de Silva

The ninetieth birthday of the Most Venerable Bellana Sri Gnanawimala Nayaka Thera, chief prelate of the Kotte Sri Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha falls on March 26, and a number of religious ceremonies have been organised to mark the date.

An ashirvada bodhi pooja will be held at the Natha Devala Bo tree, Kandy on March 26 evening to be followed by a gilanpasa pooja at the Sri Dalada Maligawa.

The following day an ashirvada pooja headed by Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera will be held at the Valukaramaya Viharaya, Kollupitiya, Colombo to be followed by another ashirvada pooja at the same temple on March 28 headed by the Ven. Kollonnawe Sumangala Anu Nayaka Thera. A Sanghika dana will be offered to over 100 members of the Maha Sangha on March 29, Venerable Maharagama Nanda Thera, chief incumbent of Valukarama Viharaya said.