President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said the Chief Prelate of the Amarapura Sect Ven. Aggamaha Panditha Kotugoda Dhammawasa Mahanayake Thera always sought to propagate social well-being, prosperity, unity and well-being of the people.
The President was speaking at the final rites of the Mahanayaka Thera held with full State Honours at Independence Square, Colombo on Thursday.
President Rajapaksa said that the late Mahanayaka Thera had rendered yeomen service to the country and the nation and was known to not only the local Buddhist devotees, but also to the entire Buddhist world. The late Mahanayaka Thera had exceptional oratory skills and his sermons were admired by all followers in Sri Lanka and overseas.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's message was read out by Minister Chamal Rajapaksa. It said the Chief Prelate's demise had taken from our midst, one of the most erudite monks, who was well known for his Dhamma sermon and immense service to the Sasana.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said that the Chief Prelate’s demise was an irreparable loss to the country and to the Buddha Sasana. The late Mahanayaka Thera always offered advice and guidance to the country’s leaders and raised his voice at crucial junctures for the country. He was the very epitome of discipline as an erudite Bhikkhu who propagated Buddhism throughout the world. Several members of the Maha Sangha, Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith and several other lay leaders also spoke. Supreme Prelate of the Amarapura Sect, Dharmapala Wanshalankara, Saddarma Keerthi, Sri Tripitaka Vageeshwara, Prawachana Keerthi Sri Sasana Sobana Sri Sumangala Vidyawathasa, Most Venerable Agga Maha Panditha Mahopadya Kotugoda Dhammawasa Thera passed away on March 22 at the age of 88 while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo.
The Government declared March 25 as a National Day of Mourning in view of the final rites of the late Chief Prelate.