Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera yesterday (23rd December 2022) paid homage to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, invoking the blessings on future endeavours. He paid this visit to the temple, venerated by thousands of local and foreign devotees, after taking office as the 25th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy. During this visit, Commander of the Navy was accompanied by Mrs Mala Lamahewa, the President of Navy Seva Vanitha Unit.
At the outset, Commander of the Navy met with the Chief Custodian of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Mr Pradeep Nilanga Dela. Subsequently, he paid homage to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, invoking the blessings on future endeavours of the Navy.
Further, Commander of the Navy paid his obeisance to the Mahanayake Thero of the Malwatta Chapter and Chief Incumbent of Pushparamaya in Kandy, Most Venerable Tibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera, Most Venerable Dimbulkumbure Sri Saranankara Anunayake Thera from Malwathu Chapter and Most Venerable Niyangoda Dharmakeerthi Sri Sangharakkitha Vijithasiri Anunayake Thera and received their blessings at Malwathu Maha Viharaya.
Calling at the Asgiriya Maha Viharaya, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera called on the Mahanayake Thera of Asgiriya Chapter Rajakeeya Panditha Mahopadya Warakagoda Dhamma Siddhi Sri Panggananda Ganarathana Thera and received his blessings. Moreover, Commander of the Navy also paid his obeisance to Anunayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, Most Venerable Wendaruwe Dharmakeerthi Sri Rathanapala Upali Thera as well as Pariwenadipathi of Asgiriya, Venerable Naranpanawe Ananda Nayaka Thera and sought their wise counsel.
Venerable Maha Sangha including Mahanayake Theras expressed that they hoped the Navy would continue to carry out its anti-drug operations, nation-building efforts and contribution for the preservation of religious places in the future. To this end they showered the blessings of the Noble Triple Gem on Commander of the Navy wishing him strength to perform entrusted duties, as expected.
The President of Naval Buddhist Association and Director General Engineering, Rear Admiral Ravi Ranasinghe, Commander Western Naval Area and Commandant Volunteer Naval Force, Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara and a group of naval personnel were present on this occasion.