COMMANDER SECURITY FORCES (WEST) JOINS IN THE RELIGIOUS RITUALS HERALDED THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE SEASON TO GAUTHAMA SRI PADA

Major General Lanka Amarapala RWP RSP ndc psc, the Commander Security Forces (West), participated in the religious rituals which heralded the commencement of the annual pilgrimage season to the sacred foot print of Gauthama Buddha (Sri Pada) on 12th December at Sri Pada Rajamaha Vihara in Galpottawala, Pelmadulla.

An array of religious rituals commenced under the leadership of Ven Bengamuwe Sri Dhammadinna Thero, the chief prelate of the Sri Pada, when the casket of Sacred Relics, the statue of the God Sumana Saman, and deity’s Devabharana, jewellery of deity, enshrined in a special shrine at Sri Pada Rajamaha Vihara during the off-season of Sri Pada, were taken out at the auspicious time to mark the commencement of the Sri Pada pilgrimage season 2024-2025 . Afterwards, all-night Pirith ceremony was started at the Sri Pada Rajamaha Vihara followed by four processions, carrying the Sacred casket of Relics, Sacred objects, and the statue of God Sumana Saman from Sri Pada Rajamaha Vihara in Galpottawala, Pelmadulla to the upper courtyard of Sri Pada, Sri Pada Udamaluwa.

The meritorious ceremony was attended by the, the Governor of Sabaragamuwa Province, Mrs Champa Janaki Rajarathne, , District Secretary of Ratnapura, Mr Wasantha Gunarathne, Magistrate of Pettah District Cout, Mr.Thilina Gamage, Senior DIG Sabaragamuwa Province Mr Sanjeewa Dharmarathna, DIG Ratnapura District, Mr Pavithra Dayarathne Senior Officers, the venerable monks of other temples and Uruwarige Wannila Aththo.