Sajith-Anura Debate, that never happened - Opinion dailymirror.lk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailymirror.lk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
This tribute is in remembrance of my father-in-law, the late Dr. Neville Fernando who would have celebrated his 90th birthday on 9th March 2021. He passed away unexpectedly on the 4th of February 2021 due to the deadly COVID-19 virus.
His birthday will be remembered with an almsgiving to the priests at the Kotikawatta temple to invoke merits on him to attain the Supreme bliss of Niravana. Religious observances on his birthday were an annual occurrence even during his lifetime.
As I ponder his memories, being ‘no more’ is the saddest thought that crosses my mind. I suspect that if you are reading this you understand what I mean logically. Death means that our loved ones never grow a year older, although logic does little to clear up our confusion when his birthday continues to happen year after year.
A Gentleman Par Excellence dailynews.lk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailynews.lk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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A 210-year-old masterpiece stands majestically in the middle of the Panadura town, providing a spiritual haven for thousands of devotees belonging to all walks of life; irrespective of their race, class or creed even religion.
It is chronicled that this temple, ‘Rankoth Viharaya’, was built in 1810 on a stone quarry and was known as ‘Galkande Viharaya’, which later turned into an iconic landmark in Panadura, with period architecture. Well-known philanthropists of Panadura had donated selflessly towards the development and upkeep of this temple then. Prof. Kahapola Sugatharatana Mahanayake Thero a learned monk who believes in preserving the heritage of the temple without resorting to ‘modernisation’ of its ambience, which is the unique feature of this temple has headed the temple since 1981. Due to the ageing of its buildings and the stupa, constant maintenance and repairs are deemed necessary. This is mostly needed in the preservation of the �