All-night Pirith Chanting and Alms Giving ceremonies invoke blessings on 73rd Anniversary of Navy

Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera along with the President of Navy Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs. Mala Lamahewa attended the all-night Pirith Chanting and Alms Giving ceremonies held at the Welisara Naval Complex on 24th and 25th November 2023. The meritorious events were organized by the Buddhist Association of the Navy to invoke blessings on the forthcoming 73rd Anniversary (09th December) of the Sri Lanka Navy.

As part of the religious programmes conducted in parallel with the Navy’s anniversary celebrations, the two events were held in Welisara, with pious sentiments. The meritorious events were organized by the Naval Buddhist Association as per the directives of Commander of the Navy. The proceedings of religious rituals had been arranged at the counsel of Karaka Sangha Sabhika of Ramanna Nikaya, Chief Incumbent of Mulagandhakuti Viharaya, Venerable Panditha Kerawalapitiye Sumeda Maha Thera. Meanwhile, Commander Western Naval Area and Naval Officer in Charge Welisara supervised both events and ensured successful conduct of their proceedings.

On the evening of 24th November, fallen naval war heroes and those who went missing in action were commemorated by laying a flower wreath at the Naval War Hero Memorial, Welisara and lighting up oil lamps. To commence all-night Pirith Chanting ceremony, the Relic Casket and Piruwana Poth Wahanse were brought by a colourful procession featuring traditional dances, from Mulagandhakuti Viharaya, to the Welisara Naval Complex. Soon after, the Commander of the Navy placed the holy casket and book in the Pirith Mandapaya and the Pirith Chanting ceremony got underway.

Further, offering of mid-day alms and Pirikara to 73 members of Maha Sangha, arrived from Mulagandhakuti Viharaya, were held under the auspices of Commander of the Navy at the Welisara Naval Complex on 25th November. Following the alms giving ceremony, Ven. Maha Sangha transferred merits on fallen naval war veterans and blessings were invoked on disabled naval war heroes, Commander of the Navy, naval personnel both serving and retired, their family members and the Navy for its 73rd Anniversary.

The Chief of Staff of the Navy, Rear Admiral Jayantha Kularatne, deputy chief of staff and Director General Operations, Rear Admiral Pradeep Rathnayake, President of Naval Buddhist Association and Director General Engineering, Rear Admiral Ravi Ranasinghe, Area Commanders including Commander Western Naval Area and Commandant Volunteer Naval Force Rear Admiral Saman Perera, Director Generals of the Navy, executive committee members of the Navy Seva Vanitha Unit, flag rank officers, senior and junior officers and sailors attached to the Navy Headquarters and Western Naval Command were also present on these occasions.