Sri Lanka: Sirisena Participates In Ceremony To Offer Sannas Pathraya To New Anu Nayaka Thero
The religious ceremony to present the Sannas Pathraya to the Most Venerable Professor Kotapitiye Rahula Thero who was conferred the post of the Anu Nayaka (Deputy Prelate) of the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Maha Sanga Sabha of the Siam Nikaya was held today on Friday at the Kotte Rajamaha Viharaya with the participation of Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena.
The Sannas Pathraya was offered to Rahula Thero by the Mahanayake of Kotte Kalyani Damma Maha Sanga Sabha Dr. Iththepane Dammalankara Thero while President Sirisena offered the Vijinipatha (the fan).
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa offered the Atapirikara to the new Anu Nayaka Thero.
Ven. Kotapitiye Rahula Thero, who is a senior committee member of the Kotte Chapter, accomplished a tremendous service to the Buddha Shasana during his time as the Secretary for Ordination and the Deputy Secretary of the Sanga Sabha where he is the current Chief Secretary.
The Venerable Thero is the Director of the Pali and Buddhist Postgraduate Institute of the University of Kelaniya and the Professor of Pali at the Peradeniya University. He also is the Chief Incumbent of the Thalpitiya Bodhirajarama Vihara.
Ven. Rahula Thero completed his MA and later received his PhD at the University of Peradeniya.
Sirisena, congratulating the new Anu Nayaka Thero said it is a timely need to offer this post to Ven. Rahula Thero who is a disciplined, erudite and exemplary Buddhist monk.
“Similar to the way our country has been following, the governance of this country will be carried out in the future according to the advice and guidance of the Maha Sanga,” Sirisena said.
Maha Sanga led by the Chancellor of Sri Jayawardana University Prof. Ven. Bellanwila Vimalarathana Thero and the Principal of the Vidyalankara Pirivena – Peliyagoda, Chancellor of Kelaniya University Ven. Dr. Velamitiyave Kusaladamma Thero, Ministers Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa, Rajitha Senarathne and the Chief Minister of the Western Province Isura Dewapriya also participated in this ceremony.