Fifteen Venerable members of the Maha Sangha from several Buddhist Viharas in the United Kingdom gathered to invoke blessings on His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a Pirith Chanting and Sanghika Dana organised by the Sri Lanka High Commission in London.
Chief Incumbent of the London Buddhist Vihara Ven. Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Kingsbury Buddhist Vihara Ven. Galayaye Piyadassi Nayaka Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Birmingham Buddhist Maha Vihara Ven. Dr. Vitharandeniya Kassapa Nayake Thero and Venerable Maha Sangha Theras from the following Buddhist Viharas also participated at the Pirith Chanting and Sanghika Dana on 17th and 18th November 2012:
London Buddhist Vihara, Chiswick; Sri Saddhatissa International Buddhist Centre, Kingsbury; Birmingham Maha Vihara in Birmingham; Thames Buddhist Vihara in London; Eastham Temple, London; Edmonton Temple, London; Letchworth Dhamma Nikethanaya, Letchworth; Ilford Temple, London; Heathrow Athula Dassana Temple, London.
Over 150 Members of the Sri Lankan community of different faiths gathered at the High Commission premises to join in wishing President Rajapaksa on his 67th birthday and the beginning of the third year of his second term as President of Sri Lanka.
High Commissioner Dr Chris Nonis in his introductory remarks explained that this annual Pirith chanting was to bless His Excellency President Rajapaksa who had brought freedom and peace to the country by ending a three decade long conflict and defeating terrorism. He had thus created the climate whereby all communities irrespective of their ethnicity or religious beliefs could live as free people.
Ven. Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thero of the London Buddhist Vihara explained the significance of the Pirith chanting and the merit it brings to people and to communities and this special chanting is to give blessings to President Rajapaksa who has brought great progress to the country.
The Pirith Chanting Ceremony on Saturday was followed by a Sanghika Dana on Sunday morning, President Rajapaksa’s birthday. The anusasanas at the Sanghika Dana were delivered by the Ven. Galayaye Piyadassi Nayaka Thero of theKingsburyTemple and the Ven. Dr. Vitharandeniya Kassapa Nayaka Thero of the Birmingham Buddhist Maha Vihara.
In his concluding remarks Ven. Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thero of the London Buddhist Vihara stated that the Maha Sangha was extremely happy with the dedication and devotion shown by the High Commissioner Dr. Chris Nonis during his stewardship in the UK.
The Ven. Thero thanked the High Commissioner and his entire staff for the excellent arrangements made to invoke blessings on President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The High Commission of Sri Lanka
London
18 November 2012
