BLESSINGS FROM AUSTRALIA

Tish Karu

The devout gathered on Saturday (18.11.2006) at the Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihara in Canberra, the Australian capital, to mark the 61st birthday of His Excellency, the President of Sri Lanka, Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse and to honour the servicemen and women, living and deceased, who have selflessly toiled to protect Mother Lanka and all her inhabitants.

The well attended ceremony was spearheaded by the Sinhala Cultural Association Inc. in Canberra, and was comprised of an ‘Asheervada Pooja’ and ‘Dana’ which was conducted by Ven Nandarathna thero, chief incumbent of the Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihara.

The highlight of the ceremony was an address from His Excellency, via telephone from Kandy, to the expatriate community who had gathered in his honour. In his poignant discourse, His Excellency emphasized his appreciation and admiration for the support that had been shown in regards to both his personal wellbeing and to the plight of Sri Lanka.

Addresses were also made by Sri Lanka High Commissioner to Australia, Mr. K Balapatabandi and Mrs. Badra Karunarathna, who launched the "Kapakaru Mapiya" project to help the families of the servicemen who lost their lives in the massacre of Habarana.