President pays homage to Kiri Vehera in New Year

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa accompanied by the First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa paid homage to the Kiri Vehera in Kataragama with the dawn of New Year.


The President who arrived in the sacred area last night participated in the annual Pirith Chanting ceremony and received blessings from the chief incumbent of Kiri Vehera Venerable Dr. Aluthwewa Soratha Thera.


President Rajapaksa also participated in a special commemorative Dhamma Preaching session to commemorate the late Prime Ministers S.W.R.D. Bandaranayake and Sirimavo Bandaranayake.
He participated in the rituals of the Kataragama Devala and exchanged views with the people who had arrived in the sacred area.
The Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, Uva Province Chief Minister Shashendra Rajapaksa, MP Namal Rajapaksa, and family members along with ministers Mahinda Amaraweera and Jagath Pushpakumara also participated.
(Photos by Nalin Hewapathirana)