• President Ranil Wickremesinghe attends as Chief Guest

The depositing of Omniscient sacred relics and treasures at the Deegawapiya Stupa, which occupies a prominent place among the sacred places of worship visited by Lord Buddha, was held amidst the blessings of the Maha Sanga at the auspicious hour this morning (Jul 14). The grand historic ceremony was held with the presence of President Ranil Wickremesinghe as the chief guest.

In conjunction with the main enshrinement ceremony of sacred relics and treasures, the sacred Relics Chamber, the Most Ven. Daranagama Kusaladhamma Thero Memorial Hall which consists of 20 spacious rooms and 4 large halls for providing accommodation to visiting devotees and the Alms Offering hall were also vested for the use of devotees with the participation of Author of the Deegawapiya Aruna Trust and First Trustee Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne.

The President was received by the Author of the Deegawapiya Aruna Trust and First Trustee Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne on his arrival at the historic venue this morning.

The Sacred Relics and Treasures were taken in a traditional procession and in keeping with time held customs and tradition President Wickremesinghe placed the Sacred Relics at the auspicious hour with, the Chief Prelate of the Deegawapi Stupa Venerable Mahaoya Sobitha and Venerable Maha Sanga, within the hemispherical dome of the historic Deegawapi Stupa amidst religious observances.

Following the President, Defence Secretary and Author of the Deegawapiya Aruna Trust and First Trustee, General Kamal Gunaratne, also handed over treasures to be placed in the Hemispherical Dome.

A large collection of precious artefacts and those presented by devotees from around the world were deposited at the Stupa along with the sacred relics.

The sacred relics deposited at the historic Stupa today were unearthed during excavations carried out at the Deegawapiya site. It was taken on an island wide exposition before the enshrinement giving people a rare chance of worshipping such sacred relics.

The enshrinement ceremony was preceded by a weeklong Pirith chanting commencing on the 7^th (July) at the Deegawapiya premises. Deegawapiya is regarded as one of the sacred ancient religious sites among the sixteen places of worship of Buddhists visited by Lord Buddha.

The ‘Deegawapiya Aruna’ fund, which receives generous financial support from philanthropists and devotees around the world, provides funds for this noble task of renovating the Deegawapiya Stupa. This project is carried out under the guidance and supervision Author of the Deegawapiya Aruna Trust and First Trustee Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne, and with the contribution of a large number of people, including Maj. Gen. Shewant Kulatunga, Commander Security Forces - East.

Ven. Maha Sanga including Chief Prelates of the Three Chapters, Former President Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister of Buddhashasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Hon. Vidura Wickramanayake, Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Staff to the President Mr. Sagala Ratnayake, former parliamentarian Daya Gamage, Chief of Defence Staff, Tri Forces Commanders, Director General of Civil Security Department, Commissioner General of Archeological Department, Senior DIG Eastern province, senior tri forces officers, government officials and a large number of devotees were present at the occasion.