In Pictures: President pays last respects to Ven. Buddhangala Ananda Thera

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa this afternoon (29) paid his last respects to the late Ven.Buddhangala Ananda Thera who was residing at the Buddhangala Aranya Senasana in Ampara.

The President paid his last respects to the remains of late Ven. Ananda Thera at the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress Hall, Colombo 07 and expressed his deepest condolences to Minister Sarath Weerasekara and the relatives of the late Thera, the President's Media Division (PMD) said.

Ven. Ananda Thera who was an outstanding Dhamma preacher passed away last (28) morning. He was 78 years old at the time of his demise.

His lay name was Ananda Weerasekera, a Major General served in the Army and a Commissioner General of Rehabilitation. Ven. Buddhangala Ananda Thera is also the brother of Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera, Minister of Public Security.

The late Thera was ordained as Buddhangala Ananda in May, 2007. He has authored a number of Dhamma books and published several translated books as well.