President pays last respects to late Thero of the Amarapura Maha Nikaya

Colombo (News 1st); President Gotabaya Rajapaksa paid his last respects to the late Most Venerable Aggamaha Panditha Kotugoda Dhammawasa Thero of the Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Nikaya.

President Rajapaksa visited the Sri Dharmapalaramaya in Mount Lavinia on Wednesday (24) and paid his last respects to the remains of the late Thero while expressing his deepest condolences to the novice monks and the Dhayaka Sabha. The President also left a note in the condolence book placed at the Vihara. The final rites of Most Venerable Aggamaha Panditha Kotugoda Dhammawasa Thero will take place on Thursday (25), and thereby Thursday (March 25) is declared as a Day of Mourning. Accordingly, all liquor stores, taverns, and meat shops in the Colombo District will remain closed tomorrow. Most Venerable Aggamaha Panditha Kotugoda Dhammawasa Thero, the Mahanayake of the Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Nikaya passed away on Monday morning (Mar. 22) while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo. The late Most Venerable Aggamaha Panditha Kotugoda Dhammawasa thero was 88 years of age at the time of his demise. The final rites of Late Most Venerable Aggamaha Panditha Kotugoda Dhammawasa Thero will be conducted at Independence Square tomorrow, with full state honours.