Wehi Pirith chanting ceremony on August 7

Priyanka KURUGALA

The Agrarian Services and Wildlife Ministry will hold a Wehi Pirith chanting ceremony at 500 tanks in the catchment areas (Wew Thawalla) on August 7 from 6 pm, Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister S M Chandrasena said.

The minister was addressing a press conference at the Agrarian Services and Wildlife Ministry yesterday. Around 6,000 monks will participate in this religious programme.

This programme will be conducted by the Agrarian Services and Wildlife Ministry, under the guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

"The programme will be launched centering 500 Agrarian Services Centres, "he said.

"There are 557 Agrarian Services Centers in the country," he said. Presidential Adviser of Buddhist Affairs Watinapaha Somananda Thera said 12 monks will chant Pirith at each location.

"During times of droughts and natural disasters, our ancestors conducted such religious activities to eliminate negative influences," the thera said.

Agrarian Services and Wildlife Ministry Secretary Udeni Wickramasinghe also participated in this event.