The inaugural ceremony in Kandy will comprise offer of Buddha Pooja, alms and Ata Pirikara to 66 members of the Maha Sangha, Pirith chanting and invocation of blessings symbolically on all the Army flags.
Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, Commander of the Army as the Chief Guest will attend to all these ceremonies with a representative gathering of senior officers, officers and other rankers.
On Wednesday (30), the Hindu religious observances, organized by the Army Hindu Association will take place at Sri Ponnambalam Vaneshwar Kovil at Colombo 13 and the traditional flag blessing ceremony at Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi will afterwards get underway on 2 October with the participation of the Commander and a large gathering of Army officers and other ranks.
Islamic prayers to bless the Army are scheduled to be held on 6 October at Jumma Mosque in Colombo 03, following arrangements made by the Muslim community and the Muslim Association in the Army.
The Katharagama Kiri Vehera and Devala precincts will be adorned with Army flags and illuminations on 7 October for conduct of religious ceremonies on account of the Army anniversary and it will be arranged on a grand scale. Both places will be offered Gilanpasa and Muruthen Poojas during the ceremonies before 1500 coconut lamps are lit at the Kirivehera premises. A special Perahera with Kavadi dancers of the Army will adorn the sequence of religious programmes at Katharagama.
On 9 October, members of the Christian faith in the Army will gather at the All Saints Church at Borella for a special service to bless the Army as organized by the Christian Association of the Army.
The climax of the commemorative ceremonies to coincide with the Army’s 66th Anniversary reaches on 10 October (Army Day), in which the incumbent Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva is accorded military salutes in a Guard Turnout plus a Guard of Honour at Panagoda Army Cantonment. On the same day, the Commander of the Army will show his gratitude to the inmates at Ragama Ranaviru Sevana by visiting them as a token of the Army’s concern and goodwill towards them.
On the Army Day (10) night, a special overnight Pirith chanting ceremony will take place at Sri Bodhirajaramaya (Army temple) Panagoda where the Commander of the Army as the Chief Guest is expected to carry the relic casket and invite the monks for chanting.
As the final segment of the anniversary programmes, offer of Heel Daana (breakfast) and lunch (Sangika Daana) to 66 monks at the same Panagoda temple venue, the following day (11), will bring the anniversary events to an end. (Army media)
