Sabaragamuwa felicitates President, Commanders
Chaminda Perera reporting from Ratnapura
The Maha Sangha and the public of the Sabaragamuwa Province yesterday
felicitated President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the defence hierarchy for
their untiring efforts to liberate the country from the clutches of
terrorism at a ceremony at the historical Maha Saman Devalaya in
Ratnapura.
The members of the Maha Sangha, politicians and the people's
representatives of the Sabaragamuwa Province flocked in their thousands
to Ratnapura Maha Saman Devalaya to honour the President and the
Security Forces Heads including Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
who left an indelible impression in the country's history by eliminating
one of the most ruthless terrorist outfits in the world.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa,
Former Chief of Defence Staff Air Vice Marshal Donald Perera, Former
Army Commander and present Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka,
Former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Air Force Commander
Air Chief Marshal Roshan Gunathilake, IGP Jayantha Wickremaratne and
Civil Defence Force Chief Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera were honoured
at this ceremony.
They were conducted to the venue in a colourful procession led by the
traditional Sabaragamuwa drummers and dancers. The President, Defence
Secretary and other officials paid homage to the sacred Sri Maha Saman
Devalaya before the commencement of the ceremony.
The Maha Sangha presented a special Sannaspatra to President
Rajapaksa in recognition of his service for the country and its people
while a special award was presented to the President by Power and Energy
Minister John Seneviratne on behalf of the masses of the Sabaragamuwa
Province.
The Maha Sangha also presented Sannaspatra to Defence Secretary
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Former Chief of Defence Staff Air Vice Marshal
Donald Perera, Former Army and Navy Commanders , the IGP and the Chief
of Civil Defence Force.
Chief incumbent of the Pothgul Viharaya Ratnapura, Bengamuwe
Dhammadinna Thera delivered an Anusasana.
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