Family and friends of Mangala Samaraweera will mark the passage of three months since his passing, in a series of private and public occasions for reflection from November 23 to 26.
Mathaka Mangala will attempt to provide everyone who knew him in different capacities, an opportunity to come together to remember him and pay their respects.
Mathaka Mangala began with the traditional Buddhist custom of a sermon (bana), on November 20, at the Matara Bodhiya, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
A sermon (bana) will be delivered in Colombo by Head of the Walpola Rahula Institute Ven. Galkande Dhammananda Thera. The sermon, which will begin at 7 p.m., will be livestreamed on Facebook and Youtube.
Mangala’s family will offer alms (dhana) to bhikkhus in his memory on November 24.
Mangala’s ashes will be placed at ‘The Restpect’ Jayaratne Funeral Parlour, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 8, on November 25 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for all those who wish to pay their respects to do so.
The ashes will be taken to Matara in a limited vehicle procession by his family and friends on November 26.
The ashes will be placed at the Olanda Dutch Market Hall (Nupe), a community centre which was restored under Mangala’s purview, from 2 p.m. - 4p.m. for all those who wish to pay their last respects. At 4 p.m., religious rites will be performed by members of the clergy representing Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, and Christian traditions before the ashes will be taken in a procession to the final resting place of Khema’s boy and beloved son of Matara and Sri Lanka to the Matara Cemetery for interment in the Samaraweera family grave.