The highest respect that could be accorded to the Sacred Tooth Relic, which has been the guardian of the nation, is to build a virtuous society in this country, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said, after receiving the Perahera Sandeshaya from the Diyawadana Nilame to mark the completion of the Kandy Esala Perahera this year.

The Perahera Sandeshaya was presented to the President by the Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela who led the Basnayake Nilames to read out the memorandum at the meeting of custodians of the respective shrines responsible for organizing the annual Esala Perahera and the special invitees, inclusing ministers and parliamentarians.

In his reply to the contents of the memorandum, President Rajapaksa thanked the organizers of this year’s Perahera and paid a tribute to the Mahanayake Theras of Malwatte and Asgiriya and the Sangha who extended their support and advice to make the annual event a success.

The President said that he is pleased to attend the ceremony after the completion of the Perahera mainly because this year’s event was the first to be held after the defeat of the three-decade long scourge of terrorism.

He said this was also the first Perahera held after uniting the motherland. "I gladly and respectfully accept the memorandum stating that the Perahera was concluded successfully. I am also grateful to all those who gave their might to hold this national event so successfully".

"I am also glad to be associated with this historical religious festival which has a relationship with the Sacred Relic that we protected for more than 1700 years since the sacred object arrived on the island during the rule of King Kitsirimevan", the President further noted.

He said that the Tooth Relic was protected amidst challenges to the nation from enemies and calamities. The Sangha protected the Tooth Relic with devotion.

The devoted members of the Sangha protected the Sacred Tooth Relic, at times by even hiding it under their robes. At times of famine, the Sangha offered a portion of the food to the Sacred Tooth Relic and partook of what was left. Such was the veneration that the Sangha had towards the Sacred Tooth Relic, he noted.

"It is therefore our duty to protect the Sacred Tooth. The Sacred Tooth was a blessing and a source of great courage to the forces to liberate our motherland from the threat of the terrorism. The entire country was shocked with grief when the terrorists attacked abode of the Tooth Relic - the Sri Dalada Maligawa", he recalled.

The inhuman terrorists attacked the Sacred Bodhi Tree and killed many devotees in cold blood. As a result of these dastardly deeds, the treacherous terrorists were destroyed and the country was saved from their ruthless cluthches, he said.

"We are fulfilling our bounding duty even today by holding the Perahera annually and we are providing the world an opportunity to view this historic pageant, the President noted.

"Now that we have liberated the motherland from the terrorists and restored the freedom to venerate the sacred objects freely it is now left to us to develop our country, he stressed.

President Rajapaske assured that the government would take steps to resolve problems with regard to the lands and properties of the places of worships including the devales.

"Now that we have completely liberated the motherland from the terrorists, it is our bounden duty and responsibility to develop the country. It is also the responsibility to free our motherland from the various evils and nefarious activities", he said.

"As long as the sacred Tooth Relic and the Srimaha Bodhi exists in our motherland, it is tantamount to the presence of the Buddha. It is therefore our duty to build a virtuous society. Building a virtuous society is the highest honour that we can accord to the Sacred Tooth Relic".

President Rajapaksa presented prizes and certificates to the best artistes in the Perahera. The Diyawadana Nilame and the Basnayake Nilames received financial assistance to meet the expenses incurred in organising the Perahera.