PMD: President Ranil Wickremesinghe stressed that the 73rd Upasampada Vinaya Karma festival of the Sri Lanka Rāmañña Maha Nikāya will be fully sponsored by the state.
The President stated that the government is obligated to safeguard Buddhism, and that the government is aiming to strengthen all sects led by the Bhikkhu community.
President Wickremesinghe made this comment while addressing the discussion on the preparations for the ’73rd Upasampada Vinaya Karma’ festival of the Sri Lanka Rāmañña Maha Nikāya at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (24).
This ‘Upasampada Vinaya Karma’ Festival, which is held every two years, will be held from July 21st to July 27th at the Sudu Ganga Udakukkhepa Seema Malakaya connected to the Mahaweli River and centred around the Purijjala Sri Sanghabodhi Pirivena in Matale, with President Ranil Wickremesinghe scheduled to attend the opening ceremony in keeping with tradition.
The Rāmañña Maha Nikāya began on June 13, 1863, with the Upasampada Vinaya Karma Festival held at the Galle River Udakukkhepa Seema Malakaya, and the Upasampada Vinaya Karma Festival, which lasted for 160 years, was totally state sponsored. The first Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rāmañña Maha Nikāya Nikayarakshasa Sabha was the late Mahamanya D. S. Senanayake.
Two-hundred Samanera (novice monks) will receive higher ordination (Upasampada) during the 73rd Upasampada Vinaya Karma Festival on July 21st at the Sudu Ganga Udakukkhepa Seemamalakaya in Matale.
The next discussion regarding the organizing of this year’s Upasampada Vinaya Karma Festival will be held on May 18 at the Matale District Secretariat, and the President’s Secretary, Mr. Saman Ekanayake, instructed the authorities to present the progress of the tasks assigned to all government institutions.
The President’s Secretary advised the relevant officers to be in contact with the President’s Office and instructed the officials to take all necessary action to ensure the success of this event.
The Chief incumbent of Sri Lanka Rāmañña Maha Nikāya Venerable Makulewe Sri Wimala Thera, Venerable Anunayakes of the Rāmañña Maha Nikāya including Venerable Matale Dhammakusala Thera, Venerable Nadagamuwe Wijayamaithri Thera, , Minister of Buddhasasana , Religious and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickramanayake, Minister Ramesh Pathirana, State Ministers Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Janaka Wakkambura, Ashoka Priyantha, Chairman of the Rāmañña Maha Nikāya Sabha Deshbandhu Karu Jayasuriya, Treasurer Mervin Gunawardena, Senior Vice President Kesara Lal Gunasekara and Defence Ministry Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne (Rtd), Ministerial secretaries and government officials, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Vikum Liyanage and representatives of the security forces participated in this discussion.
