COLOMBO (NewsRadio); Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake has emphasized that the government is bound to protect Buddhism according to the constitution.
Secretary Saman Ekanayake noted that according to the instructions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, steps have already been taken to provide necessary facilities to the students studying history as well as to doctors and professors and to establish a centre to study Sri Lankan history.
Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake made these remarks while attending the presentation ceremony of scroll memorandums related to the areas declared by the National Physical Planning Department through the Gazette as “Pujabhumi” today at the Presidential Secretariat.
Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake presented the “Puja Bhumi” scroll memorandums for five temples and a Devalaya with archaeological, historical as well as sacred significance.
He also requested the venerable Maha Sangha to respect the right to practice other religions freely and not to fall prey to the efforts of some to create religious conflicts in the country.
The scroll memorandum for declaring the Welgama Rajamaha Vihara as a “sacred site” was presented to the Chief Incumbent Ven. Ampitiye Seelawansa Tissa Nayaka Thera, and the scroll memorandum for declaring the Meegammana Rajamaha Viharaya which is located in the Meegammana village of Pathadumbara valley, as a “sacred site” was presented to the Chief Incumbent of the temple Ven. Maninggamuwe Wimala Keerthi Sri Sumanajothi Piyarathana Nayaka Thera.
Also, the scroll memorandum of declaring the Gangodawila Sri Vijayarama Rajamaha Viharaya in Kolomthota Gangodawila village as a “sacred site” was presented to the Saddharma Keerthi Sri Ven. Amunumulle Jinarathana Thera, while the Papiliyana Sunethra Mahadevi Piriwen Rajamaha Viharaya was presented with the scroll memorandum to declare it as “sacred site” to the Chief Incumbent Venerable Prof. Medagoda Abhayatissa Nayaka Thera.
Meanwhile, the scroll memorandum declaring Minneriya Mahasen Rajamaha Viharaya as a “sacred site” was presented to Ven. Matale Udugama Saddhananda Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the temple and the scroll memorandum declaring the Medagoda Sri Siddha Sath Pattini Devlaya in Ruwanwella as a “sacred site” was handed over to the guardian of the Devalaya Ajith Shanta Bandara.
This event was graced by the presence of the Maha Sangha led by Former Vice-Chancellor of the Pali and Buddhist University, Vice-Chief Sanghanayaka of Southern Sri Lankan sector of the Malwathu Chapter Ven. Prof. Ittademaliye Indrasara Nayaka Thera, Ven. Attangane Rathanasara Thera Chief Registrar of the Sri Lanka Rāmañña Chapter, and Chief Prelate to Russia Ven. Prof. Pallekande Rathanasara Thera, Former Chief Registrar of the Amarapura Chapter and the acting Mahanayaka of the Wajirawansha sector of the Amarapura Chapter, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickramanayaka, Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Somarathna Vidanapathirana, Secretary to the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing S Sathyananda and other government officials.
