Pirith chanting to bless President

Asele KURULUWANSA, Indika POLKOTUWA

Jaya Piritha was chanted by 3,000 members of the Buddhist clergy on July 6 to invoke blessings on President Mahinda Rajapaksa to give him strength to successfully undertake the massive development work in the country as he bravely faced the threat of terrorism and completely freed the country from it.

The members of the Buddhist clergy converged on the historic Maha Maluwa of the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy to chant Jaya Piritha.

The Buddhist clergy headed by the Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter Most Venerable Udugama Sri Buddharakkhitha Thera, chanted Pirith where President Mahinda Rajapaksa was also present. An almsgiving to 3,000 numbers of the Maha Sangha also took place with the sponsorship of Bhikkuni Dheerafun of Thailand.

The Pirith chanting was also aimed at celebrating the 84th birthday of the King of Thailand and in view of the 2,600th Sambuddhathva Jayanthi. The Anunayaka of the Malwatta Chapter Ven Niyangoda Vijithasiri and Deputy Registrar of the Asgiriya Chapter Ven Naranpanawa Ananda Thera delivered anusasanas on this occasion.

Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake, Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela, Mayor of Kandy Raja Pushpakumara and Kandy District Secretary Gamini Seneviratne were also present.