(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –The ceremony of presenting the piriven building complex and the residence of the sangha of the Dibulagala forest monastery to the Mahasngha and the unveiling of the wahalkada was held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday(27th).
The President who came to the forest monastery opening the commemoration plaque at first and then openned the doors of the wahalkada in midst of pirith chanting of the mahasanhga opened the piriven building complex and the residence of the sangha and presented it to the sangha.
The President, addressing the ceremony said that the development plans will be conducted in the future to provide facilities for the Buddhist monks residing in the Dibulagala forest monastery which was one of the main forest monasteries since the ancient kingdoms and to develop this premises as a respectable and virtuous place which will enchant the local as well as foreign visitors.
The new piriven building complex and the residence for sangha built under the “Pibidemu Polonnaruwa” district development program wwas constructed at a cost of Rs.40 million. The dialog Axiata has provided monetary aid for construction of the new doors of the entrance of the wahalkada. President Sirisena presented souvenirs to those who contributed in the construction process.
A painting of the temple was offered to the Chief Incumbent of Dibulagala Forest Monastery Millane Siriyalankara Thero by the President. Minister Wijeydasa Rajapakshe, former Chief Minister of the North Central Province Peshala Jayarathne, District Secretary for Polonnaruwa Ranjith Ariyarathne, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe, and other public representatives as well a large crowd of worshippers were present in this event.
Meanwhile the Poson full moon poya day “Janapathi Sadaham Yathra”, religious sermon was also held at the Dibulagala Rajamaha Temple. Maha Nayaka of the Amarapura Sri Dharmarakshita Nikaya and the Chief Incumbent at Bambalapitiya Sri Vajiraramaya temple Most Venerable Rajakiya Panditha Trincomalee Ananda Thero delivered the sermon today and the President was also present among the devotees. The Poson Maha bath dansela organized annually by the Polonnaruwa Buddhist Council for the 58th time will be held on today and tomorrow in front of Polonnaruwa Parakum Samudra where the rice dansela was opened by the President yesterday. This rice dansela was organized by the chair of the Buddhist Council President Maithripala Sirisena on behalf of pilgrims gathering in hundreds of thousands to worships in celebrating the Poson full moon poya day on which Arahat Mahinda arrived in Sri Lanka. The Dansela started after offering danaya to the Mahasangha where the special preaching and Punya Anumodana was conducted by the Anunayaka of Udarata Amarapura Maha Nikaya Chief Incumbent of Japan’s Sakamuni International Buddhist Centre Ven.Yalagamuwe Dhammissara Thero.
Chief Prelate of Alahara Bakamuna region Liyangaswagure Devananda Thero and other mahasangha too were present at the event. A huge crowd gathered from different areas to Polonnaruwa sacred premises came to the dansela where the President too engaged in serving them food. The dansela will be continued today as well as tomorrow from morning to night on behalf of the crowd gathered for worship.
Minister Wijeydasa Rajapakshe, Members of Parliament Nalaka Kollonne, Siripala Gamlath, former Chief Minister of the North Central Province Peshala Jayarathne, Chairman of the Polonnaruwa Municipal Council Chanaka Sidath Ranasighe, District Secretary for Polonnaruwa Ranjith Ariyarathne and others were present in this event.
