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| Sunday, 11 May 2003 |
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Unveiling of second Ran Veta at Sri Maha Bodhi on May 14 by Senapura D. Nissanka, Anuradhapura East Correspondent The second protective Ran Veta (gold fence) erected around the Sacred Sri Maha Bodhi, the oldest historical tree in the world, venerated and respected by the entire Buddhist community and non-Buddhists of the world over is scheduled to be unveiled on Wednesday (May 14) under the auspices of Dr. Taksin Shanawatara, the Prime Minister of Thailand and Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The Sri Lanka Air Force, on the invitation of the Ven. Pallegama Sirinivasa Thera, the chief incumbent of Atamasthana will sprinkle jasmine flowers from the air to mark the occasion. W. M. R. B. Wanninayake, Government Agent, Anuradhapura, has instructed the General Manager of the Electricity Board to keep the whole Uda Maluwa area colourfully illuminated throughout the night. The following morning, with the guidance of the Ven. Nugethenne Pannananda Thera, chief incumbent of Sambuddha Jayanthi Viharaya, the Rajarata Buddhist Women's Society will offer the first 'Kiripindu' Buddha Pooja to the Sacred Sri Maha Bodhi. Mrs. W. J. Ranasinghe, JP, President of the society, said that they were delighted since this Buddha Pooja was reminiscent of the "Kiripindu danaya" offered to the Blessed One 2,584 years ago by Sujatha Situ Devi, after qualifying herself to perform the act. The motorcade carrying the two Prime Ministers and the other VIPs will start at 3.00 p.m. on May 14 from Pandulagama and wend its way to the eastern entrance of Uda Maluwa via Maithripala Senanayake Mawatha, Bandaranayake Mawatha, Jayanthi Mawatha, Lion Pillar and Sri Maha Bodhi Mawatha. The two Prime Ministers will initially be received by Bertie Premalal Dissanayake, the Chief Minister of the NCP and Lal Dharmapriya Gamage, the Minister Assisting Foreign Affairs. They will be received at the eastern entrance of the Uda Maluwa by Minister of Justice and Buddhasasana W. J. M. Lokubandara and Governor of the NCP, G. M. S. Samaraweera. Devotional songs and beating of the drums will herald the arrival of the two Prime Ministers at the Sri Maha Bodhi Dharmasalawa. The commemorative plaque of the Ran Veta will be unveiled amidst the chanting of Seth Pirith and the beating of drums performed by traditional drummers at Uda Maluwa. Construction work of the Ran Veta has been completed. A rehearsal of the unveiling ceremony will be conducted at 3.30 p.m. on May 13. The decoration and illumination of the procession route will be carried out by the Municipal Council and other relevant institutions. The Provincial Council of the NCP will erect a beautiful pandal near the Lion Pillar with another colourful pandal by the MC at the eastern entrance of the Uda Maluwa. The Central Cultural Fund and the Department of Physical Planning have undertaken to prepare and decorate the area outside Uda Maluwa, while the decorations inside Uda Maluwa will be carried out by a committee headed by the Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera, guided by the chief incumbent of Atamasthana. Decorations in the town will be done under the supervision of Mr. Wijesinghe, the Municipal Commissioner. According to Mr. W. M. R. B. Wanninayake, the Government Agent, arrangements for facilities such as drinking water, health, first aid, security etc. have already been finalised. About 2,600 children from schools in the town and within its close proximity have been selected to participate in this grand event. |
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