Bodhi pooja for Japan's recovery

by Omar RAJARATHNAM

Despite nearly 29,000 people either dead or missing due to the tsunami and the effects of the nuclear explosions making matters worse, we remain hopeful of rebuilding Japan, the First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy in Colombo, Kiyohiko Hamada told the Sunday Observer.

He was participating in a Bodhi Pooja ceremony on April 4 at the Gangarama Temple, Colombo 2 organised by the Lanka-Japan Friendship Society to invoke blessings on those who affected by the disaster in Japan.

This is a very difficult period for Japanese people all over the world. The situation is still quite bleak and we will need a great deal of time to recover", the Secretary said.

Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne, officials from the Japanese Embassy in Colombo, members of the Japanese community in Sri Lanka and several others who sympathised with the Japanese calamity also participated.

"All Sri Lankans must pray for the speedy recovery of Japan. We must also instill in the minds of our children, to respect the nature and be kind to it", said the Chief Priest of the Gangarama Temple Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Thera who organised the prayer meeting.