Chaithya enshrining ashes of late Most Ven. Gnanadeepa Thero of Denmark vested with devotees for veneration

Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne today (26th December 2020) attended a spiritual ceremony in which he vested a Chaithya built at Ethdalagala Aranya Senasana in Meegalewa, Anuradhapura enshrining ashes of late Most Ven. Gnanadeepa Thero of Denmark, for the veneration of Buddhist devotees. The construction work of this Chaithya was carried out with manpower and funds made available by Sri Lanka Navy.

Gnanadeepa Thero of Denmark, who spent 50 over years of monastic life and resided at Ethdalagala Aranya Senasana in Meegalewa, Anuradhapura in his later time in life, before passing away on 12th September 2020. The construction work of this Chaithya commenced on 23rd October 2020, under the wise counsel of Ethdalagala Aranya Senasanadhipathi in Wedenigama Kudakathnoruwa, Ven. Karandeniye Gnanaweera Thero and Ven. Kahaththeewela Sugathawansa Thero and guidance of Ven. Alawwe Anomadassi Thero as well as financial patronage and manpower enabled by the Sri Lanka Navy, to house the ashes of the late Most Ven. Gnanadeepa Thero. Consequently, the proceedings of this spiritual event of ash-enshrinement in the Dome of the recently completed Chaithya, for the veneration of Buddhist devotees, got underway today with the precedence of Commander of the Navy, amidst the blessings of the members of Maha Sangha present on the occasion. Thereupon, Commander of the Navy also unveiled the turret (Koth Kerella) of the Chaithya and took part in religious observances as well.

Meanwhile, the proceedings of the ceremony were conducted in keeping with COVID-19 preventive guidelines and it was also attended by the President of Navy Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs. Chandima Ulugetenne, Commander North Central Naval Area, Rear Admiral Sanjeewa Dias and a group of officers and sailors from the North Central Naval Command.