Tharunyata Hetak remembers tsunami dead

Mahinda P Liyanage Galle Central Special corr

The sixth annual commemoration of the tsunami tragedy organized by the Tharunyata Hetak Organization in association with Dakshina Lanka Bikkhu Organization was held under the patronage of Tharunyata Hetak President Namal Rajapaksa MP yesterday near the tsunami Memorial Monument at Peraliya, Hikkaduwa.

The event was conducted as part of the National Safety Day which fell on the same date.

A large number of members of the Maha Sangha led by Southern Provincial Chief Judicial Sanghanayake Ven Pallaththara Sumanajothi and dignitaries of other faiths participated.

Southern Province Governor Kumari Balasooriya, Southern Province Chief Minister Shan Wijayalal De Silva, Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkodi, Senior Minister Piyasena Gamage, Resettlement Minister Gunarathne Weerakoon, Health Deputy Minister Lalith Disanayake, Galle district MPs Nishantha Mutuhettigama, Ramesh Pathirana and Mohan P de Silva also participated.

A highlight of the event was the arrival of the fully repaired and renovated Galle bound ill-fated train. The train was filled to capacity with passengers who came to participate in the tsunami commemoration. Transport Minister Kumara Welgama also traveled in the train.

Southern Province Chief Sanghanayake Ven Nindane Kassapa Thera made a special Anusasana while Southern Province Catholic Diocese Administrator Rev Fr Nihal Nanayakkara, Mowlavi Alhaj M H M Avin and Tirukkal Krishna Moorthi of Shiva Temple, Kaluwella, Galle also delivered special sermons.