“Dinesh Gunawrdena being the Prime Minister is a strength for the Mahasangha” - Ven. Kobawaka Dhammadinna Thera, Kirivehera Chief Prelate.
“It is fortunate for the country that Premiership was accepted amid challenges” - Ven. Kapugama Saranatissa Thera, Abhinavaramadhipati of Kataragama.
With the aim of preserving the unitary state and the Motherland, Sathyakriya and Adhishtana Pooja was held for the 29th year, with the patronage of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP), together with several national organizations, under the leadership of the MEP Leader, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, on 26.08.2023, at Kataragama historical Kirivehera Chaithya. It was held in front of the King.
The Prime Minister who presented the pledge stated;
"We dedicate ourselves to preserve the unitary state, territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of the Motherland, which has been protected from generation to generation in this holy land nourished by the blood and sweat of our forefathers.
Let’s dedicate ourselves to protect and preserve the noble Sambuddha Order and Maha Sangharatna, which was bequeathed to the nation with great honour and pride by our ancestors for more than two thousand five hundred years, and gift it to the world for its perpetuation.
Let’s protect our ancient culture, rivers, streams, lakes, water bodies, forests, animal sanctuaries, etc.
Enriched with renewable energy, we pledge to turn Sri Lanka into an environment-friendly country self-sufficient in food that could face the challenges of the climate change.
Let’s participate widely in economic innovation by ensuring the respect and safety of women and their equal participation.
We are committed to building a country in which youths are rich in knowledge, skills and positive attitudes and to create a future that guarantees new jobs and livelihood strategies.
By strengthening the democratic society, we commit ourselves to establish a mixed election system for the supreme Parliament and public representative bodies by reforming the Constitution to create a participatory democracy.
To ensue a leap forward in national economic revitalization, we are committed to create new programs that will lead to increase production and exports by effectively using lakhs of unutilized lands, state lands and oceans across the country with people’s participation.
Together with the intellectuals and professionals, we dedicate ourselves to provide relief and facilitate capacity to rebuild for the farmers, working people, local businessmen, elderly parents, war heroes who have been affected by the current economic crisis that has collapsed and suffering from the burden of life.
Let us make a pledge to the entire nation at the historic Kataragama Kiriwehera Pooja Bhumi with determination to stand in the noble human virtues with all the people of the country.
Ven. Rajakeeya Panditha Kobawaka Dhamminda Thero, Chief Sanghanayake of Ruhunu Magam Pattu, Chief Incumbent of Kirivehera Viharaya, who delivered a sermon said;
"The Prime Minister took a bold decision for the prosperity of our country in a very turbulent and critical era when he assumed the duties of the Prime Minister. Standing together with the current President, the Prime Minister brought the country out of the most depressive state and made all the citizens live happily. By solving the problems of the country, the people of the country have some hope today.
It is a matter of happiness for everyone that a person who is a Buddhist at heart and who has taken responsibility in a terrible period, who believes in the Triple Gem and the religion, has become the Prime Minister. If you were not the Prime Minister in an era where Buddhist monks are being accused of various things, there would have been many problems.
It is also a matter of praise that no matter how many duties there are, he has not forgotten this dedication and the pledge that was started 29 years ago.
Today there is a dry weather condition in the whole country. Farmers are unable to farm and are in a lot of trouble. Through this act of piety, may the country receive rain, may the hopes of the farmers be fulfilled, and may all the people of the country live happily, even the animals.
Ven. Kapugama Saranatissa Thero, Chief Judicial Sanghanayake of Ruhunu Magampattu, Abhinavaramadhika said;
"The current Prime Minister performed this prayer in the midst of the terrorist threats of the Tigers in this province. The Yala sanctuary had become a place full of terrorists. It became impossible to even hold the Kataragama Esala Perahera.
King Dutugemunu the Great received blessings to ward off foreign invasions from Kataragama.
Following the practice followed by the Kings and Ministers then, the present Prime Minister performed this religious pooja to bless the three armed forces with strength.
This duty was performed at a time when this great island of Sri Lanka was plagued by terrorism.
The present Prime Minister and his group started this pilgrimage with a very good thought at a time when people were afraid to travel in buses and vehicles due to threat of terrorism.
By blessing the three armed forces, by the blessings of Triple Gem, by the blessings of God Kataragama, the killings of human beings were stopped. Sinhala or Tamil is irrelevant. He wished that everyone would have the strength and courage to live as children of one mother.
Today, we have been able to live in peace by being able to end the war while protecting the people of the North and East and protecting the country itself.
During this period, not only Sri Lanka but the whole world has had to face many big economic problems.
In our country and we all are in the middle of many problems. We must be united during this time. What will be the future of our future generations if we are divided due to power?
In the recent past, this country became anarchic. The country lost its leadership. It was at that time that the current President took over this country for us when he even lost his own house. At the same time, in the midst of all these challenges, we are really happy that the current Prime Minister, as a responsible experienced leader belonged to a family of the great leaders like Philip Gunawardena, has taken over this country to face challenges to save this country.
Both of you took over the leadership in an era when there was no leadership.
What we see today is that there is a great struggle for leadership. There is a struggle, but at this time, everyone should try to save this country. Irrespective of colour or party, everyone should support and come together without disrupting or destroying everything.
We know that this country is going through a very difficult journey at this time. We are in an era in which the world faced a major economic problem, which spreads like a forest fire.
A year ago we did not have gas. No oil. There was no electricity. You took over a country, which was without a leader and made this country in this state today.
The decision you made that day was a very bold decision. You accepted the position at a time when no one accepted this position without thinking about their homes, generations, and their lives.
We have never seen a time when monks were insulted as much as this time. This is what Portuguese, Dutch, and English did during their rule. Their primary aim was to destroy Buddhism in this country.
The Prime Minister, as a very quiet true Buddhist, respects the monks and works to preserve our Buddha Order."
The Maha Sangharatna, General Secretary of the MEP, Tissa Yapa Jayawardena, Deputy Secretary, Member of Parliament Yadamini Gunawardena, Vice President, Minister of State Sisira Jayakodi, MEP activists, who traveled from various parts of the island to participate in this event and Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapaksa, State Ministers Janaka Wakkambura, Piyal Nishantha, Anupa Pasqual, Shashindra Rajapaksa, and Jagath Pushpakumara, Members of Parliament Gevindu Kumaratunga, Gayashan Navanandana, leaders of Buddhist organizations including national organization leaders Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara, lawyer Kalyananda Thiranagama, Custodian of Kataragama Devalaya Dishan Wickremaratne, All Ceylon Buddhist Federation President Chandra Vakishta, representatives of various mass organizations and a large number of people participated in this event.
Prime Minister’s Media