‘Jaya Piritha’ annually organised by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is scheduled to be held on January 26 this year under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the BMICH, Defence Secretary Gen. Kamal Gunaratne said, He was addressing media personnel at a media brief at the Ministry on Tuesday.
This year’s ‘Jaya Piritha’ will be held with the participation of 1000 bhikkhus invited from around the island including Maha Nayaka and Anunayaka Theras to invoke religious blessings on the country, all Sri Lankans and also to save the country from the pandemic, Gen. Gunaratne said.
The Defence Secretary also said, that all proceedings will be held conforming to the stipulated healthcare guidelines to contain the spread of the pandemic.
Family members of differently-abled and fallen heroes will also attend the event which also invokes blessings on them and the Tri-Forces.
Responding to a question, the Defence Secretary said that only a limited number of members of the public could be accommodated at the BMICH premises this year as per the Covid -19 health guidelines.
The MOD organised Jaya Piritha was initially held under a notion of the former Defence Secretary and current President Gotabaya Rajapaksa with the participation of between 3,000 to 5,000 bhikkhus, he said recalling the origin of this annual event.
Previous Jaya Piritha held during the peak of the pandemic saw the chanting of Rathana Suthra, Gini Piritha and Jaya Piritha by the members of Ven. Maha Sanga.
The President’s Secretariat, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Office of the Chief of Defence Staff, Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs, Tri-Forces, Police and Civil Security Department will extend their support in organising this event that will culminate after the all-night Pirith chanting and alms-giving on the following day, he said.
MOD Additional Secretary (Administration) Gaminie Mahagamage, Director General of the President’s Media Division Sudewa Hettiarachchi, Adjutant General of the Sri Lanka Army Maj. Gen. Deepal Pussella, President’s Media Spokesman Kingsly Ratnayake, MOD Director Media Col. Nalin Herath, administration representatives of Tri Forces and Police and a large gathering of print and electronic media personnel were present.