President Anura Kumara Dissanayake called on the Mahanayake and Anunayake Theros of the Malwathu and Asgiriya Chapters in Kandy on Thursday afternoon, on the day the Kandy Esala Perahera stages its final Randoli procession.
The President first visited the Malwathu Maha Viharaya, where he paid his respects to the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Mahanayake Thero and received his blessings, Ada Derana reported, citing a statement from the President’s Media Division. He then called on the Most Venerable Dimbulkumbure Wimaladhamma Anunayake Thero of the Malwathu Chapter.
At the Asgiriya Maha Viharaya, the President paid his respects to the Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Mahanayake Thero of the Asgiriya Chapter and inquired after his well-being.
The PMD described the meetings only as brief discussions and did not disclose what was raised at any of them.
Homage at the Maligawa
Dissanayake also paid homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic at the Sri Dalada Maligawa the same afternoon, Daily Mirror reported, and met thousands of devotees who had gathered at the temple for the pageant, inquiring about their well-being.
Central Province Governor Dr. Harsha Suranga accompanied the President at both engagements. Suranga was appointed to the post on August 5, succeeding Sarath Abeykoon, who resigned in July.
Courtesy calls on the Mahanayake Theros of the two chapters are a long-standing protocol for heads of state visiting Kandy, and both prelates hold senior authority over the Siyam Nikaya, the largest of Sri Lanka’s monastic orders.
The visit falls on the closing stretch of the annual pageant. The festival opened with the first Kumbal Perahera on August 18, and after Thursday night’s final Randoli procession it concludes with the traditional water-cutting ceremony on Friday, August 28.
