08th August 2018 22:48:57 Hours
Showing the high regard and respect for conduct of the annual Kandy Sri Dalada Perahera festival, Sri Lanka Army’s Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment (VIR) troops for the 4th consecutive year this morning (8) donated five tons of dried coconut (coppara) for illumination of the Perahera (pageant) during its parade along streets in Kandy.
Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army at the invitation of the Colonel of the Regiment, VIR, Major General Ajith Kariyakarawana, Deputy Chief of Staff, symbolically offered a tray of coppara to the lay chieftain of the Temple of Tooth, Mr Nilanga Dela Bandara, Diyawadana Nilame and paid homage to the sacred relics, together with a group of Officers and Other Rankers.
Preparation of those dried coconuts to be used as lamps for the Perahera has been done by VIR troops at Boyagane since the year 2015 as a token of respect to the annual Esala Perahera event in Kandy. Coconuts from the VIR groves are collected and used for this sacred purpose.
After making the first symbolic stock of dried coconuts to the precincts, the Commander met the Diyawadana Nilame at his office and shared a couple of views with him on the conduct of the forthcoming Esala Perahera, scheduled to begin next week.
Major General Ajith Kariyakarawana welcomed the Commander on arrival at the Dalada Maligawa premises before he was ushered to make the offerings to the sacred shrine.
