Here's the sri lankan president support Buddhism:
President illuminates Mihintale, the foremost symbol of Buddhism to Lankans
Details Published on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 07:15
The lighting of Mihintale as a custom was inaugurated by King Devanampiyatissa at the four corners of the sacred city during Arahat Mahinda’s stay in Anuradhapura. Today, President Rajapaksa illuminated the sacred place repeating history, said Mihintalaya Raja Maha Vihara Chief Incumbent Ven Walawahengunawewa Dhammarathana Nayake Thera on Sunday at Mihintale.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa switched on the Mihintale Aloka Pooja on Sunday at Mihintale amidst the chanting of seth pirith by the maha sangha headed by Mihintalaya Raja Maha Vihara Chief Incumbent Ven Walawahengunawewa Dhammarathana Nayake Thera.
Ven.Thera in his anusasana emphasised how President Mahinda Rajapaksa focused his attention and desire on reviving the Mihintale Sacred City to its past glory, majesty and splendour in his quest to develop the country spiritually and economically. Ven..Thera said that the President guided and helped renovate and rehabilitate the dilapidated monuments of the Mihintale Sacred City.
Ven. Thera further explaining the religious significance of the site said throughout the 2320 years and specially during the 30 years of LTTE terrorism, the sacred city could survive, which speaks of the miraculous strength and force dominating the historic site.
ANCL (Lake House) in collaboration with the Ceylon Electricity Board and Abans Ltd. sponsored the event for the 51st consecutive year.
On arrival at Mihintale, President Rajapaksa first unveiled the Samadi Buddha statue at the main entrance to the Mihintale Sacred Site and later unveiled a plaque.
Later, the water spout designed and constructed by the Civil Security Department was opened by the President. North Central Governor Karunaratne Divulgane, Chief Minister S M Ranjith Samarakoon, Ministers Duminda Dissanayake, Tissa Karalliyadde, Jagath Balasooriya and Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Deputy Ministers S M Chandrasena and W B Ekanayake, Parliamentarians Shehan Semasinghe, Lake House Chairman and Managing Director Bandula Padmakumara, Director Editorial Seelaratne Senarath and others were present.
