President worships Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, Ruwanweliseya

Nimal Wijesinghe

Anuradhapura Additional District Group Correspondent

President Mahinda Rajapaksa worshipped the Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi and Ruwanweli Chetiya and received the blessings following his swearing-in for a second term as President, on Saturday, November 20.

The President worshippied the sacred Bo tree and Ruwanweliseya Chetiya accompanied by First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and offered Atapirikara.

The Maha Sangha headed by Atamasthanadhipathi Ven Dr Pallegama Sirinivasa Nayaka Thera and Chief Incumbent of the Ruwanweli Chetiyaramaya Ven Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera chanted Seth Pirith.

Chief Incumbent of Lankarama Chetiyaramaya Ven Ralapanawe Dhammajothi Nayaka Thera in his Anusasana stressed that President Mahinda Rajapaksa was the only leader to kiss the soil of his Motherland.

Continuing his Anusasana in the proximity of the Sacred Bodhi, the Prelate appealed to the President to speed up the Anuradhapura Sacred City Preparation and Development Plan which has been dragging on since it was inaugurated by late Prime Minister S W R D Bandaranaike. "It is not an easy task for you alone to transform the country into the Miracle of the Asia. The vigorous and patriotic endeavors being made by you to develop the country economically and spiritually is greatly appreciated by the people," the Nayaka Thera said. Chief Incumbent of the Ruwanweli Chetiyaramaya Ven Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera, said that the President surely has a long standing bondage with the Anuradhapura Sacred City especially the Sri Maha Boo Tree. The enthusiasm the President would have experienced after the eradication of terrorism is very rare and unique which was the outcome of one's good fortune. "The Maha Sangha are fulfilling the noble deed of transforming this priceless and invaluable fortune for the well being and prosperity of the people," the Prelate emphasized.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa paid a courtesy visit to Atamasthanadhipathi Dr Pallegama Sirinivasa Nayake Thera and briefed the Ven Thera on the future development course to achieve economic emancipation in the country. The Nayake Thera blessed the President to implement his farsighted development mission and the future vision.

First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa NCP Governor Karunarathne Divulgane, Ministers Tissa Karalliyadda, Deputy Ministers Mervin Silva, W B Ekanayake, S M Chandrasena, Duminda Dissanayake and NCP Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake were present.