‘Jaya Piritha’ to be held on January 26

‘Jaya Piritha’ annually organized by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is scheduled to be held on January 26 under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, at the BMICH in Colombo, Defence Secretary Gen. Kamal Gunaratne (Retd.) said at a media briefing held at the Ministry on Tuesday (18).

This year’s ‘Jaya Piritha’ will be held with the participation of 1,000 Buddhist monks invited from around the island including Mahanayaka and Anunayaka Theras with a view to invoking blessings on the country, all Sri Lankans and also to save the country from the pandemic, Gen. Gunaratne said.

The Defence Secretary also asserted that all proceedings will be held conforming to the stipulated healthcare guidelines to contain the spread of the pandemic.

Family members of deceased war veterans and differently-abled war heroes will also attend the event which also invokes blessings on them and the Tri-Forces.

Responding to a question, the Defence Secretary said that only a limited number of members of the public could be accommodated at the BMICH this year as per the Covid-19 health guidelines.

The MOD organized ‘Jaya Piritha’ was initially held under the recommendation of the former Defence Secretary and current President Gotabaya Rajapaksa with the participation of between 3,000 to 5,000 Buddhist monks, Gen. Gunaratne said, recalling the origin of this annually organized event.

Previous ‘Jaya Piritha’ held during the peak of the pandemic saw the chanting of Rathana Suthra, Gini Piritha and Jaya Piritha by the members of the Maha Sanga.

The President’s Secretariat, Home Affairs Ministry, Public Security Ministry, Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry, Office of the Chief of Defence Staff, Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs, Tri-Forces, Sri Lanka Police and Civil Security Department will extend their support in organizing this noble event that will culminate after an all night Pirith chanting and almsgiving on the following day, he added.

MOD Additional Secretary (Administration) Gaminie Mahagamage, Director General of the President’s Media Division Sudewa Hettiarachchi, Adjutant General of the Sri Lanka Army Maj. Gen. Deepal Pussella, President’s Media Spokesman Kingsly Ratnayake, MOD Director Media Col. Nalin Herath, administration representatives of the Tri Forces and Police and a large gathering of print and electronic media personnel were present at the media briefing.