Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL/Lake House) founder D.R. Wijewardene’s 138th birth anniversary commemoration was held last week at the Lake House building. An all-night Pirith chanting ceremony on Wednesday (21) was followed by an alms-giving on Thursday (22).

On Wednesday, a procession carrying the Sacred Relics Casket from the Sri Sambuddhaloka Temple, Fort to the Lake House Building was accompanied by the Maha Sangha, Lake House Chairman Prof. Harendra Kariyawasam, board members, newspaper editors, Lake House Buddhist Association officials and employees. Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena then placed the Sacred Relics Casket in the Pirith Mandapaya.

Director General of Government Information, Dinith Chinthaka Karunaratne, offered alms for the bhikkhus, and the offering of flowers to the relics casket was done by the Public Trustee, Gihan Pilapitiya. The lamps around the Mandapaya were lit by Lake House Chairman Prof. Harendra Kariyawasam, Director Operations Attorney-at-Law Manjula Makumbura, Director Legal and Administration Attorney-at-Law Janaka Ranatunga, Director Editorial veteran journalist Sisira Parantantrie, Director Finance Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne, General Manager Sumith Kothalawala and Additional General Manager Virajith Bois. ANCL Chairman Prof. Kariyawasam and Wijeya Newspapers Limited Chairman Ranjith Wijewardene garlanded D.R. Wijewardene’s portrait.

After the all-night Pirith chanting, an alms-giving was also held the following day for 25 bhikkhus, which was attended by Lake House management, editors and employees.

The religious observances were held under the auspices of the Lake House Buddhist Association under the guidance of the Chief Incumbent of Fort Sambuddhaloka Temple, Prof. Ven. Ittademaliye Indasara Nayaka Thera and the incumbent of Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Ven. Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thera.