News
National tributes to Kandy Dalada Perahera performers
President Maithripala Sirisena paid tribute to all the traditional local artistes who performed at the Esala Maha Perahera of the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, which concluded last Sunday, saying it can teach the world the essence of Buddhism.
President Maithripala Sirisena feeds a tusker at Janadhipathi Mandiraya
The President said he had the honour of handing over the young tusker Pulasthi which carried the sacred tooth relic of The Buddha. The elephant was gifted by the Government of Myanmar. The President said he was also able to allocate funds for the Ranviyana at the Sri Dalada Maligawa. Rs 45 million was given from the President’s Fund for the canopy. It had first been built by the late Ranasinghe Premadasa, following requests by the chief monks and opened on December 31, 1987 at a cost of more than Rs 20 million, before he became President.
President Sirisena said all the artistes and others who work tirelessly each year to make the Perahera such a wonderful pageant have kept Sri Lankan cultural traditions alive through the ages.
He presented awards and certificates to 175 artistes. Among them was seven-year-old fire ball artiste H D Tillekeratne from Batuwatte Primary School, Ragama.
The presentation took place at the Janadipathi Mandiriya in Kandy in the presence of the Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela, Basnayake Nilames Gayana Heenkenda of Natha Devale, Mahendra Ratwatte of Maha Vishnu Devale, Gamunu Walisundera of the Kataragama Devale, H M L B Herath of the Paththini Devale and other Basnayake Nilames of Pitisara Devales.
Cheques were given to the Diyawadana Nilame and the Basnayake Nilames of all devales, from allocated funds.
Among those present were the Secretary to the President Udaya Seneviratne, Governor K B Dissanayake, Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake, District Secretary H M T P Hitisekera and Divisional Secretary Palitha Bandara.
President Maithripala Sirisena with seven-year-old Tillekeratne who was awarded a certificate and cash