President seeks blessings of Sri Maha Bodhi

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional district correspondent with Kithsiri Wanasinghe

President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at Anuradhapura on Saturday to attend special religious observances and seek blessings of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi and Ruwanwelia Seya. President was greated by Ministers Tissa Karalliyedda, Duminda Dissanayake, Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake and Provincial Minister H.B. Semasinghe.

He paid a courtesy call on Atamasthanadhipathi Ven. Dr. Pallegama Sirinivasa Nayake Thera. The President offered religious requisites to the Thera.

The President was escorted to Udamaluwa in a cheerful procession to attend religious rituals.

Atamastanadhipathi Ven. Pallegama Nayake Thera, Ruwanweli Seya Chief Incumbent Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera, Lankaramayadhipathi Ven. Ralapanawe Dhammojothi Nayaka Thera, Anuradhapura Sri Sambuddha Viharadhipathi Ven. Nugetenne Dammanandha Nayaka Thera and Maha Sangha conducted the observances.

The President also offered requisited golden ornaments to the Sacred Bo-tree. He offered hereditary gold ornaments to the Sacred Bo-tree a ritual which the ancient kings used to perform.

Later, in the absence of kings, the Atamasthanadhipathi Nayake Thera and Maha Sangha have been entrusted with this religious task.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa had the privilege of offering the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi with its gold ornaments rating the President in the calibre of kings, according to Maha Sangha.

After the pooja, the President mingled with the crowd flocked in the Bo-Maluwa premises. The President planted a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi, in the premises of Weli-maluwa of the Sri Maha Bodhi temple.

President Rajapaksa arrived at the Ruwanweli Seya and offered requisites to the Chief Incumbent Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera.

After being blessed he offered flowers to the ‘Buddha statue in the temple. Later the President walked round the Ruwanweli Chetiya and stopped at the statue of King Dutugemunu facing the Maha Chetiya in Salapathala Maluwa.