Kandy – Senior Advisor to the President, Parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa and Power Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage were felicitated, for their service to the nation, by the Sri Lanka Amarapura Sangha Sabha on Monday (09).

The ceremony was held at the Kandyan Art Association Centre. It was chaired by the Anunayaka of Malwatta, Ven. Niyangoda Sri Vijithasiri Thera, and the Mahanayake Theras of Amarapura and Ramangna Nikayas.

Basil Rajapaksa was awarded the title of ‘Sri Wickrema Dveepa Jothi Jananandana’ and Minister Aluthgamage received the title of "Dheera Veera Janasadhan Sri Lanka Puthra".

The deeds of the honorary titles (sannasa) were presented to the recepients by the Mahanayaka of the Amarapura Nikaya, Dauldena Gnanissara Thera and the Ven. Mahanayake Thera of the Ramangne Nikaya, Weweldeniya Madhalankara Thera.

Ven. Attaragama Vajirajothi Thera was awarded the Sannasa in recognition of his being appointed the Anunayake of the Udarata Amarapura Nikaya.

Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake, Ministers Milinda Moragoda, Keheliya Rambukwella, Laxman Yapa Abeywardana, General Anuruddha Ratwatte, Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga, Kandy GA, Gotabhaya Jayaratne and DIG, Central Pujith Jayasundara attended the ceremony.

The Mahanayakes of Amarapura and Ramangna Nikayas, Kotugoda Dhammavasa thera, the Anunayake Thera of Asgiriya, Ven. Galagama Atindassi, and Ven. Theripehe Somananda Thera in their Anusasana praised Ministers Basil Rajapaksa and Mahindananda Aluthgamage for their contribution in assisting President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Security forces in their endeavour to liberate Sri Lanka from the LTTE terrorism and implementing the Negenahira Navodaya and Uthuru Wasanthaya programmes.