His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces has been conferred with the highest national honour Vishawakeerthi Sri Threesinhaladishwara .
The prelates of Malwathu and Asgiri chapters awarded the title to the president at the national ceremony to mark the reunification of the country and honour and invoke blessings on the President and war heroes for liberating the country and nation from terrorism held at the historic Magul Maduwa of the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy today (May 23).
An emotionally moved President said the blessings of the Maha Sangha was the greatest strenght in the effort to unite the divided nation after thirty years, and placed his reverence at the feet of the venerable maha sangha. He recalled with gratitude the yeoman service rendered by the Defence Secretary, Service Chiefs,IGP and the gallant armed forces in the battle to protect and unite this country.
“As a cabinet minister, I was conferred the ‘Sri Rohana Jana Ranjana’ title at this historic venue.While conferring that title, the late chief prelate stated what he expected from me.If he was alive today,I know he would have been the happiest, as his dream to unite this nation has come true’, the President recalled to memory.
Continuing the President said the most urgent task was to build a just society and added that because of a prolonged cruel war, the state would not have met all needs of the Maha Sangha.”We shall from now, meet all such needs to build a just and free society”, the President asserted. He further noted that all must work according to the Buddhist doctrine towards such a noble objective to build a righteous society.
On this occassion, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Air Chief Marshall,Donald Perera, Army Chief, Gen.Sarath Fonseka, Navy Commander, Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Air Chief Marshall, Roshan Goonetilleke, IGP,Jayantha Wickremeratne and Civil Defence Chief, Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekere were awarded “Sthuthi Sthroththa Pathra” (Scroll of facilitation) in recognition of their worthy contribution towards uniting the nation.
Ministry of Defence
YOUR EXCELLENCY YOU DESERVE THE HONOUR VERY MUCH AND SO THE OTHERS AS WELL.