Cremation of Mahanayaka Thera today
The cremation of the Mahanayaka of the Ramanna Chapter the Most Venerable Weweldeniye Medhalankara Thera will take place at the D. S. Senanayake National School Grounds in Mirigama 3.00 pm today.
The funeral procession will leave Sasanawardena Privena in Meerigama at 2.00 pm after the performance of religious rites by the pirivena students.
The Mahanayakas of the various chapters, other religious dignitaries and representatives of both the Government and the Opposition politicians are expected to be present at the cremation.
The government has declared today as a day of mourning as a mark of respect for the late Mahanayaka Thera.
A large number of people, including President Mahinda Rajapaksa, visited the Sasanawardena Privena to pay their last respects to the late Mahanayaka Thera. He passed away on Wednesday at the age of 103.
President Rajapaksa has promised that the Meerigama base hospital would be upgraded into a modern hospital as requested by the late Mahanayaka Thera during his last days.
Meanwhile, the selection of an acting Mahanayake for Ramanna Chapter will be conducted at the auditorium of the Mirigama Divisional Secretariat. According to the constitution of Ramanna chapter, the selection of an acting Mahanayake should be done prior to the cremation of a Mahanayake who has passed away.