State ceremony of offering the traditional “Sannas Pathra” to the newly appointed “Maha Nayaka”and the “Anu Nayaka” of the Asgiriya chapter was held yesterday (17th May) at the Temple of the Tooth Relic premises under the patronage of the President Maithripala Sirisena.

The President offered the “Sannas Pathra” to the Maha Nayaka most ven. Varakagoda Sri Gnanasara thero and the Anu Nayaka ven. Anamaduwe Sri Dhammadassi thero following the ancient rituals and Maha Vihara traditions.

Addressing the occasion President Sirisena said, “the conferring of the title of the Maha Nayaka of Asgiri Chapter is a great blessing for the program initiated by the government to build a good human society by protecting the honour of the motherland.”

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Diyawadana Nilame (the Custodian of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic) were also present along with a group of devotees.