President participates in religious observances in memory of SLFP
stalwarts
President Mahinda Rajapaksa participated in special religious
observances at the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi and Ruwanweli Seya in
Anuradhapura yesterday in memory of Prime Ministers SWRD Bandaranaike
and Sirimavo Bandaranaike and other former SLFP stalwarts including
Ministers Maithripala Senanayake and K B Ratnayake.
The religious observances were conducted by Atamasthanadhipathi Ven
Pallegama Siriniwasa Nayake Thera and Ven Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka
Thera, said a communique issued by the President’s Media Division.
Ven Pallegama Hemarathana Thera delivering an anusasana said Prime
Minister SWRD Bandaranaike spearheaded the establishment of the SLFP
while Sirimavo Bandaranaike as the world’s first woman Prime Minister,
made a great contribution towards carrying forward the party to greater
height.
Maithripala Senanayake and K B Ratnayake were great sons of Rajarata
who rendered a great service to the SLFP and the country in general, the
Thera said.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa had proved his sense of gratitude by
participating in religious observances to commemorate those past
political leaders, he said. It is a blessing of the country to be
governed by a leader in the calibre of President Rajapaksa who had great
qualities of humanism and gratitude, the Prelate said. “The greatest
tribute we could pay Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike is to carry
forward the policies enunciated by him. The President is committed
towards doing it,” he said.
NCP Governor Karunarathne Divulgane, Chief Minister SM Ranjith and
former Minister S M Chandrasena were also present.
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