With the re-awakening of people:

Sri Lanka will emerge as a leading country - Mahanayake Thera

Indika POLKOTUWA

A country can be easily rebuilt if its people are patriotic and virtuous. The present re-awakening visible among the people will enable Sri Lanka too to emerge as a leading country in the world soon, said Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkhitha Mahanayake Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter.

The prelate expressed these sentiments at a meeting which followed the donation of a new house built on a plot of land owned by The Sri Dalada Maligawa at Lihinipitiya, Naula to a needy family in Palapathwala, Matale on Wednesday. The beneficiaries were D.K. Tillakaratne and his family of six children. Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkhitha Mahanayake Thera handed over the keys of the house to beneficiary Tillakaratne in the presence of a large gathering.

The Mahanayake Thera who exhorted the people and all parties to join hands in the nation building effort said the donation of the house was made possible due to the untiring efforts of Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara. The fully equipped house was built at a cost of Rs. 1 million.

The Mahanayake Thera said the Sri Dalada Maligawa had been able to extend its religious and social work to a great extent after Dela Bandara assumed office as Diyawadana Nilame. Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara also spoke. Ven. Wehera Sri Madhananda Chief Sangha Nayaka Thera, Kandy District Secretary Gotabhaya Jayaratne and Kataragama Devalaya Basnayaka Nilame Kushan Wegodapola were also present.