Thousands of devotees pay their last respects
Thousands of Buddhist devotees and members of other communities from all parts of the country continued to converge on the Kotte Sri Naga Vihara yesterday too to pay their last respects to Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera.
There were old, disabled and even sick men and women in the long queue along the highway bordering the Sri Naga Vihara to pay homage to the late prelate who passed away in Singapore last Sunday.
The security personnel took much pain to control the crowd and the vehicular traffic as there was heavy traffic congestion on almost all the main roads surrounding the Vihara where the mortal remains of the late Thera are placed for veneration.
In addition to foreign and local public to pay their last respects to Ven. Sobhitha Thera, Ministers Lakshman Kiriella, Arjuna Ranatunga, M.k.d.s.gunawardana and Deputy Ministers Dr. Harsha De Silva, Ajith P. Perera, former Parliamentarians Dr. Ellawala Medhananda, Tissa Attanayaka are also among those who paid last respects to the Thera.
Almost all streets and government and private sector establishments in Kotte had hoisted yellow flags in respect of the Thera.
The funeral procession will leave at 2.00 pm on Thusday for the Parliament ground where the cremation will be held.
A special Traffic Plan has been in operation from Pita-kotte junction to Jubilee Post until Thursday, Police Spokesman, SSP Anura Gunasekara said.
The security personnel took much pains to control the crowd and the vehicular traffic as there was heavy traffic congestion on almost all the main roads surrounding the Vihara