80TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF THE MOST VENERABLE WELAMITIYAWE DHARMAKIRTHI SRI KUSALA DHAMMA THERO AT SRI NAGA VIHARAYA
Evening of Tuesday, 23rd Feb 2016 at Sri Naga Viharaya, Anuradhapura was purified with the blessing arrival of Aggamaha Saddhammajothika Dhaja, Tripitaka Vagishvaracharya, Upadhyaya Dhurandara ,Mahopadaya, Pandith, the most Venerable Welamitiyawe Dharmakirthi Sri Kusala Dhamma Thero for participating the series of religious events organized there to invoke blessing on the most Ven. Theros 80th birthday.\r\n\r\nAccording to the schedule the first event, Dhamma discussion was started under the sunset, in front of the pagoda on the rocky mountain. The discussion was conducted by the Rev. Prof. Vavuniyave Pajnasekera Thero of Sri Lanka Bikkhu University with Rev. Prof Akmeemana Dhammapala Thero of Sri Lanka Bikkhu University and Prof. Dr. Sumanapala Galmangoda of University of Kelaniya under an apropos topic for the Army personnel How Buddhism can solve the problems of youth. The questions asked by the audience were discussed and answered by the veteran group at this session.\r\n\r\nAfter the Dhamma discussion, a blessing poetic preaching for the most Ven. Welamitiyawe Kusala Dhamma Thero was conducted. The commander Security Force (Wanni) Major General MHSB Perera RWP RSP USP ndu psc who guided and directed these religious events, offered a memento for the most Ven. Thero for commemorating the 80th birthday. The Security Force Commander did not forget to express his gratitude for the most Ven. Welamitiyawe Kusaladhamma Thero for his continual blessing for the armed forces from the beginning of the war up to now. The final event of the programme Bethi Gee Saraniya was the most attracted event by the thousands of audience consisted with both army personnel and civilians.\r\n\r\nAtamasthanadhipathi Ven. Dr. Pallegama Siriniwasa Nayaka Thero, the Chief Incumbent of the Ruwanveli Maha Seya, Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thero accompanied by many other chief Nayaka Theros purified the occasion. DIG of Anuradhapura Mr. Ranjan Pathmasiri and The secretary of Health Ministry, North Central Province Mr. Keerthi Gamage graced the occasion as the guest invitees.\r\n\r\nThe events had been successfully organized by the officers and other ranks of 21 Division under the direction of the General Officer Commanding of 21 Division Major General AS DE Z Wickramarathne USP ndc psc IG. Thousand of Army personnel, villagers and civilians had gathered to witness the events and they all were treated with refreshment and dinner by the troops of 21 Division.\r\n
