Thousands made happy on President’s birthday
President Mahinda Rajapaksa's birthday last week was resonant with echoes of ancient tradition and history.
On the morning of the President’s 69th birthday last Tuesday, a pandal bearing the words “Lovan hamuwe rata bebalewu ape kalaye rajathumani obata chiran jayathu”’ (“Long live the king of our times, who brought international fame to the country”) appeared near the Gangarama Temple in Slave Island where Mr. Rajapaksa was due to attend a religious service.
The kings of ancient Sri Lanka used to donate meals to the public on their birthdays, and this traditional benevolence was demonstrated from the country’s north, enjoying the dividends of peace, to the south.
Smiling faces greeted the Sunday Times team as we walked through the streets of Pettah on November 18. People from across the island had gathered opposite the Fort railway station and the Pettah Floating Market.
The President started the day with a dane held for 1,000 kiri ammas (mothers) at the Sri Abhayarama Temple in Narahenpita.
Near the Fort Railway Station, about 500 people gathered in the early hours of the day at a kiribath (milk rice) dansala organised by the Fort police.
A Maha Bath dansala given by the three armed forces got underway in the afternoon at a tent erected near the Pettah Floating Market.
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, with a broad smile on his face, joined Army commander, Lieutenant-General Daya Ratnayake and Navy commander, Rear-Admiral Jayantha Perera, to help serve thousands of people.
Army spokesperson Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said 25,000 people were expected for lunch.
The crowd outside corroborated his statement. People of all ages lined up, patiently waiting their turn for servings of yellow rice and a variety of dishes such as tempered potatoes, fried brinjal, chicken curry etc.
Among the crowds was an amused German national, Matthias who, seizing the opportunity to ask us to take his photo at the dansala, said he had seen the crowd gathering and come to share the experience.
“This is a good opportunity to meet the local people,” he said. “The food was good,” said J.A. Wilfred, 52, coming out of the food tent from which fragrant aromas emanated. “The President will gain a lot of merit through this act.”
R.K. Suneka, 32, a resident of Kelaniya shared this view. “We really enjoyed it,” she said. “It was a nice experience to be served by Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa.”
The Police kiribath dansala was followed by a free eye examination and spectacle-gifting programme organised by the Ministry of Social Services.
Rani Lechimi, 55, had arrived all the way from Delmar (located in the Central province). She stood in the long queue that had gathered in the blazing sun outside the Fort railway station.
They all waited their turn to get their eyes tested and receive a free pair of spectacles.
“It’s a wonderful way to help the people,” said 54-year-old Nimal Karunatileke, a resident of Kalutara. “My eyesight is pretty weak.
However this should not be a one-time thing – it should be done all across the country,” he added.
“This is certainly better than organising a dansala,” said Kandy resident U.D. Weerasekara, 56, currently employed in Colombo.
“While these eyeglass-donating programmes are good it would be better if the government addressed the bigger issues like unemployment,” he added.
K. Dias, 62, from Piliyandala, said there should be regular programmes like this.
“I wish the President a Happy Birthday. May the Triple Gem bless him,” she said.
The Minister of Social Services, Felix Perera, acknowledged the campaign had taken place to mark the President’s birthday and added, “But we usually have plenty of such programmes across the island”.
He added, “I went to the President’s house early in the morning to wish him. I also organised several masses for him at the Cath- olic Church. It is striking that this is the President’s 69th birthday and the Budget that was presented to parliament was also the 69th budget of Sri Lanka.”
Other programmes took place elsewhere in the country to mark the day.
A special Hindu religious programme was conducted at the Maviddapuram Murugan Temple in Jaffna. SLFP Jaffna District Chief Organiser Angajan Ramanathan organised food to be distributed in several Hindu temples, and groups were seen gathering outside the Mavittapuram Temple premises to share the meal.
In Hambantota, Mayor Eraj Ravindra Fernando said a kiribath dansala had been organised by the municipal council. “We served almost 3000 people,” Mr. Fernando said.
Mr. Rajapaksa’s own day was packed. After the dane at the Sri Abhayarama Temple in Narahenpita he took part in religious observances at the Sambudhaloka Viharaya in Fort and at the Sambodhi Viharaya in Colombo 7.
He opened two housing schemes in Moratuwa and in the Madampitiya, Henamulla areas. “These, however, were not done to mark the President’s birthday,” presidential spokesman Mohan Samaranayake said.
The Randiya Uyana housing scheme in Hememulla consists of 1,137 housing units. In addition to that, 2,789 families living in under-served settlements in Colombo were vested with standard public housing units in four high-rise residential housing complexes.
And halfway across the world, a Mass to bless the President was held at St. Catherine Church within the premises of the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, Palestine, said to be the site of the birth of Jesus Christ and a sacred place for Christians all over the world.
Since the opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Palestine in 2007, a Mass is held every year to bless President Rajapaksa. Conducting last week’s service, Rev. Fr. Iyad Twal called blessings upon Sri Lanka and President Rajapaksa.