A Gem Studded Throne to celebrate President’s Birthday

Nov 20, 2008 Source: Asian Tribune - By Raja Arambewela

Celebrating the birthday of the President Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse, a Gem Studded Chair – studded with 90 valuable gems - was presented to the Venerable Sangarakkhitha Thero, the chief incumbent of Kelalniya Royal Temple today (19th) in President’s honour by the Minister of Labour Mr. Mervin Silva. In the 5th century BC the Lord Buddha in his 8th year of enlightenment visited Kelaniya in order quell a quarrel between two Naga leaders; Chulodara and Mahodara. They were quarrelling over a Jewel encrusted Throne gifted by a Naga king named Maniakkhitha. After the Buddha expounded the futility of their quarrel to them, they became Buddhists and got together in offering the throne to the Buddha. The Kelaniya Dagoba was originally built by enshrining this Throne along with a cluster of the Buddha’s hair. Mr. Mervin Silva commemorating this event thought it fit to make this donation to the Kelaniya Royal Temple in honour of the President. Another important event on this occasion was the gifting of 5000 Sandalwood plants each valued at Rs.2500.00 to the temple and the people in the surrounding area. ‘Forestation of Indigenous Plants Facing Extinction’ named as “Haritha Piyasa” is another programme in the Mahinda Chinthanaya. In support of this programme the Touchwood Company who has been involved in commercial forestation of various plants such as Teak, Mahogany etc. started forestation of Sandalwood plants too. Mr. Mervin Silva got together with the Touchwood Company and made this gift of Sandalwood plants at the Kelaniya Royal Temple in order to popularize this project of ‘forestation of indigenous plants that are facing extinction’. The Media Secretary to the minister, Dulan said that they intend to make this programme popular island wide by gifting these plants to temples and surrounding villages in time to come. Source of the article