The final rites of Chief Incumbent of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya Aggamaha Panditha Most Ven. Napane Pemasiri Mahanayake Thera will be held at the Bandaranaike National School Ground in Warapitiya, Kundasale under State patronage today.
The Maha Sangha has requested Buddhists to fly yellow flags at their residences on Sunday as a mark of respect to the Thera. A large number of people are visiting the Sri Vidyasagara Pirivena in Hurikadawa to pay their last respects to the remains of the Mahanayake Thera.
The remains of the Mahanayake Thera will be taken from the Sri Vidyasagara Pirivena to the Bandaranaike Grounds by the Army. The Cremation Committee has taken a decision to allocate a limited number of seats in the grounds to maintain social distancing.
Most Ven. Napane Pemasiri Mahanayake Thera passed away at 97 while receiving treatment at the Peradeniya Hospital. He was appointed Mahanayke Thera of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya on September 3, 2012. He was the 13 Mahanayake Thera of the Sri Lanka Ramagnna Maha Nikaya. The Mahanayake Thera had served as the Chief Incumbent of Menikhinna Hurikaduwa Vidyasagara Pirivena and the Adhikarana Sanghanayaka of the Ramanna Maha Nikaya.