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The scroll was handed over to President Ranil Wickremesinghe by the Temple of the Tooth Relic’s Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela at the Kandy Presidential Palace on Tuesday afternoon (20). The scroll marked the end of the annual Temple of the Tooth Relic celebrations and Satara Maha Devalayas at Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth Relic, a grand cultural festival celebrated with reverence for ancient traditions.
The Diyawadana Niramei of Sri Dalada Maligawa Pradeep Nilanga Dela, accompanied by Sathara Maha Dawala and Pitisara Dewala Niramei, arrived at the Presidential Palace in a ceremonial procession. President Ranil Wickremesinghe formally received the Diyawadana Niramei at the main gate of the palace and gave them a warm welcome.
As is customary, Diawardana Niramei formally submitted the memorandum to the President.
As has been a long-standing custom, the president and the Niramai family came together for a group photo.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe presented traditional gifts and awards to the artists participating in the Tooth Festival.
The President also provided financial support to the “Pitisara Devala” through the “Esala Perahera Trust” with a donation of 10.5 million Sri Lankan Rupees, the highest donation in history.
Besides, the President also received the book “Sacred Dalada Culture” compiled by the Central Province Culture Department.
During the ceremony, President Ranil Wickremesinghe handed over the “Ehelepola Walawwa” from the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy to Diawardana Nilame’s special exemption form.
Senior Deputy Postmaster General Rajita Ranasinghe issued a commemorative stamp symbolizing Kandy’s historic Temple of the Tooth Relic, which at 205 mm is the longest stamp in the world. Mr. Ranasinghe presented the stamp to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
In addition, a batch of stamps, souvenirs and first day covers related to the Temple of the Tooth Relic and Buddhist culture were also presented to Diawardananiram for exhibition in the Temple of the Tooth Relic Museum.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed his gratitude to all those who supported the festival, especially Diyawardana Nilame who played a major role in organizing the festival. He praised the contribution of all the Nilames of Sathara Maha Dewala in preserving the historic Kandy festival, which is both a religious festival and a national event, and an extraordinary cultural celebration that showcases Sri Lanka’s traditions to the world. He stressed that preserving this tradition is a collective responsibility.
The President also outlined the government’s plans to transform Kandy into a renowned cultural and arts centre, with a focus on extensive development.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe further elaborated in his speech;
We recently witnessed a very successful and prestigious Tooth Festival. Organizing such an event is no easy task. While various parades are held around the world, each with its own unique cultural identity, the historical Tooth Festival is particularly significant. This festival is considered the country’s premier cultural Tooth Festival.
We express our gratitude to the Temple of the Tooth Relic and all the participating temples. As a government, we are committed to supporting individuals like Diyavardanan Nilame to take this tradition to new heights. Our goal is to elevate the Temple of the Tooth Relic to a prominent religious event in South Asia and integrate it into the tourism industry. This effort requires the cooperation of the central government, the provincial council and the Kandy Municipal Council, as well as the contribution of all the Nilames of the Sathara Maha Dewala, including Diyavardanan Nilame.
In addition, the Ministry of Culture is committed to supporting cultural centres that nurture artists. The Bellwood Academy, established 40 years ago, should be developed into an art academy under the National Youth Service Commission, providing valuable training and opportunities for local youth. With the Perahala Festival, Kandy is gradually becoming a hub for arts and culture, and other initiatives are being implemented to further promote the city.
We are currently negotiating with Hilton to develop a new hotel while preserving the historical significance of Bogambara Prison. We are also exploring the possibility of connecting the old post office with the Taj Mahal Hotel and building a new hotel. In addition, we plan to use other land in the Bogambara area to build tourism-related hotels and repurpose the South Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) in Kandy for similar purposes.
We also plan to modernize the existing Kandy Market. In addition, we also plan to develop the Digana and Kundasarai areas with a focus on tourism. To support these developments, I have requested the Japanese government to build the Central Expressway from Kalagedara to Katugastota without interruption, which will help the area expand into a major urban area.
While we are discussing improvements to Peradeniya Park (Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya), we are not discussing Udawattakele Sanctuary at the moment. Our plans include attracting tourists to the Temple of the Tooth Relic and Satara Mahadeva and integrating these attractions with religious activities.
Our goal is to establish Colombo, Galle, Kandy and Trincomalee as major hubs in Sri Lanka. Our vision for Kandy is to develop it not only as a cultural and artistic centre but also as an important educational centre.
Minister Bandura Gunawardena, Central Province Governor Lalith Gamagee, Presidential Secretary Samman Ekanayake, District Secretary Kandy Chandana Tennakuen and other guests were present on the occasion.
Posts Government pledges support to promote Temple of the Tooth Relic as South Asia’s premier religious festival First appeared in Daily News.
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