All-night Pirith Chanting and Alms Giving ceremonies invoke blessings on 72nd Anniversary of Navy
Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne along with the President Navy Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs. Chandima Ulugetenne attended All-night Pirith Chanting and Alms Giving ceremonies held at the Welisara Naval Complex on 25th and 26th November 2022. The meritorious events were organized by the Buddhist Association of the Navy to invoke blessings on the forthcoming 72nd Anniversary (09th December) of the Sri Lanka Navy.
As part of religious programmes conducted in parallel with the Navy's anniversary celebrations, the ‘Kanchuka Puja’ and Naval Flag Blessing ceremonies were first held at Ruwanweli Seya and sacred Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura on 09th and 10th November. Meanwhile, the Christian Commemoration & Thanksgiving Service was held at St. Lucia’s Cathedral, Kotahena on 18th November.
The meritorious events were organized as per the directives of Commander of the Navy by the Buddhist Association. The proceedings of religious rituals had been arranged at the counsel of the Chief Incumbent of Sri Vidyawasa Maha Piriwena, Mirigama, Mahanayake Thera of Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya, Aggamahapanditha Most Ven. Makulewe Wimala Thera under the coordination of Mulagandhakuti Maha Viharaya, Mahabage. Commander Western Naval Area and Commandant Volunteer Naval Force, Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara and Naval Officer in Charge – Welisara Naval Complex, Commodore Mahesh De Silva supervised both events and ensured successful conduct of their proceedings.
On the evening of 25th November, fallen naval war heroes and those who went missing in action were commemorated by laying a flower wreath at the Naval War Hero Memorial, Welisara and lighting up 2500 oil lamps. To commence all-night Pirith Chanting ceremony, the Relic Casket and Piruwana Poth Wahanse were brought by a colourful procession featuring traditional dances, from Mulagandhakuti Viharaya, to the Welisara Naval Complex. Soon after the Commander of the Navy placed the holy casket and book in the Pirith Mandapaya the Pirith Chanting ceremony got underway.
Further, offering of mid-day alms and Pirikara to 72 members of Maha Sangha, arrived from Mulagandhakuti Viharaya, were held under the auspices of Commander of the Navy at the Welisara Naval Complex today (26th November). Following the alms giving ceremony, Ven. Maha Sangha transferred merits on fallen naval war veterans and blessings were invoked on disabled naval war heroes, Commander of the Navy, naval personnel both serving and retired, their family members and the Navy for its 72nd Anniversary.
Coinciding with the religious segment, a Hindu Puja will be conducted at Shri Ponnambalawaneswarar Kovil on 01st December and Islamic religious rituals at Jummah Masjid on Chatham Street on 02nd December. In addition, Pahan Puja and Alms Giving at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy (08st and 09st December), Aloka Puja at Sandahiru Seya, Anuradhapura (09st December) and Bodhi Puja and special religious ritual at the ‘Dhathu Mandira’ of Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya (28th December) will also be held.
The Pirith Chanting and Alms Giving ceremonies held in Welisara were attended by the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Rear Admiral Priyantha Perera, President of Naval Buddhist Association and Director General Engineering, Rear Admiral Ravi Ranasinghe, Area Commanders, Director Generals of the Navy, executive committee members of the Navy Seva Vanitha Unit, Flag rank officers, Senior & junior officers and sailors attached to the Navy Headquarters and Western Naval Command.
