GENERAL SHAVENDRA SILVA INVITED TO UNVEILING CEREMONY AT NELLIGALA INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST CENTRE

The International Buddhist Centre at Nelligala, Murutalawa, situated atop a picturesque mountain, close to Peradeniya extended a welcome to General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army en route to Colombo from Kandy on Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day (29) after inviting him to attend the consecration ceremony of the newly-erected God Saman 's Statue in the attractive Nelligala sacred premises.

At the invitation of its incumbent, Ven Waturakumbure DhammaratanaThera, General Shavendra Silva and his spouse, Mrs Sujeewa Nelson, President Army Seva Vanitha Unit (ASVU) as distinguished invitees graced the occasion, attended by a large gathering of Buddhist monks, including Anu Nayake monks, representing Malwatte, Asgiriya, Amarapura, Ramangna Chapters and all other sects.

Most Ven Divulkumbure Wimaladhamma Anu Nayake Thera, the deputy patriarch of Malwatte Chapter (Siyam Nikaya) in his oration to the occasion after unveiling the statue thanked HE the President for granting a promotion to the Commander of the Army, General Shavendra Silva considering his great commitment to the control work of the epidemic and also gratefully acknowledged how the former President promoted and appointed him the Commander of the Army with a promotion. The unveiling of the statue amidst airdropping of flowers coincided with the 6th anniversary of the founding of this sacred premises by Ven Waturakumbure DhammaratanaThera.

General Shavendra Silva was also invited to present appreciative mementos and incentives to sculptors of the new statue, Messrs Roshan Hemaweera and Dinesh Hemaweera by the incumbent at the same occasion. Hon. Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, Governor of Sabaragamuwa Province, Mr Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara, Diyawadana Nilame, Sri Dalada Maligawa and a gathering of invitees and devotees attended the ceremony.