President marks birthday, first anniversary of second term:

Priority for religious programmes

President Mahinda Rajapaksa marked his birthday and first anniversary of the second term of office by participating in several religious and social service programmes yesterday.

The President visited the Peliyagoda Vidyalankara Pirivena in the morning and paid homage to the Sacred Relics and obtained blessings. Chancellor, Vidyalankara University and Parivenadhipati Vidyalankara Pirivena Ven Prof Welamitiyawe Kusaladhamma Nayaka Thera in a brief anusasana said the President has enabled future generations to live in peace without fear or suspicion by ending the world’s most dreadful terrorism within a short period of one and a half years through his proper guidance.

Describing the President as a patriotic leader who loved the country, religion and the people the prelate said the President never sought cheap political gains through his actions. The President also exchanged pleasantries with devotees present on the occasion who showered him with birthday greetings, a press release by the President’s Media Division said.

Thereafter the President visited the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya and participated in special religious observances after calling on Viharadhipati Ven Prof Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkitha and receiving his blessings. The President later visited the Vishnu Devalaya offered a pooja seeking the blessings of deities and participated in a pinkama to release several head of cattle saved from slaughter. The President also participated in a social service programme where he distributed free books, white canes, spectacles, hearing aids and wheel-chairs among members of needy low income families in the Kelaniya area.

Ministers Basil Rajapaksa, Mervyn Silva and Lasantha Alagiyawanna, President’s Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath and representatives of several local authorities were also associated with the President.