Ceremonial Tusker “Nedungamuwe Raja” bids adieu By Arundathie Abeysinghe Well-known as one of the most revered tuskers in Sri Lanka, Nedungamuwe Vijaya Raja, the majestic “Maligawa Tusker”, popularly known as “Nedungamuwe Raja” who played a significant role as the Sacred Casket Bearer of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Dalada Maligawa) passed away on March 7, 2022 morning at the age of 69 years due to natural causes. The Tusker was provided a state funeral by the Government of Sri Lanka as he was considered a national treasure during his lifetime. The Tusker was named “Nedungamuwa Raja” as its owner was living in Nedungamuwa. President Gotabaya Rajapakse has also instructed to preserve the Tusker’s body as a taxidermied corpse of the majestic animal, similar to the taxidermied corpse of the former Maliagawa Tusker displayed in Raja Museum adjoining the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Nedungamuwe Raja was ...
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Most Venerable Agga Maha Panditha Rajakeeya Weligama Gnanarathana Maha Nayaka Thera: Equipped with bliss of serenity. By Sunil Thenabadu The Mahanayake of the Amarapura Nikaya, Dharmarakshita Sector, Chief Incumbent of Ratmalana Mallikaramaya temple Agga Maha Panditha Rajakeeya Welgama Gnanarathana Thera passed away in the year 2014 at the age of 101 years. The appointment of the Most Venerable Agga Panditha Rajakeeya Weligama Gnanaratana Thera as the Mahanayake Thera of the Dharmarakshita chapter of the Amarapura Maha Nikaya was unanimously announced by the Executive Sangha Committee of the Amarapura Maha Nikaya on September 12, 2003, a position vacated with the demise of the Most Venerable Agga Maha Panditha Madihe Pannasiha Mahanayake Thera. The Mahanayake Thera was until then the Anu Nayaka Mahanayake Thera for 47 long years. The Thera received the Aktha Patra disclosing the origins which elaborate in detail on the Thera’s colossal contribution to the Sasana from Prime Minister ...
