The President addressing the religious gathering said Buddhist priests protected the shrines from LTTE attacks. If not for them we would have to start our war against the LTTE from another location such as Kurunegala, Matale or Negombo.

“I have also determined and intended firmly to provide everything including all comforts of life of which the people of the country were deprived of during the last three decades in which the country was in the clutches of LTTE terrorism,” he said.

The President recalled the greatest Military victory of the Forces by eliminating LTTE terrorism and its leader Prabhakaran on May 18.

“This trend of freedom, happiness and peace should prevail forever and the whole country should endeavor to make it,” President Rajapaksa said.

The Hindu, Islam, Catholic and Christian clergy simultaneously offered their religious observances on behalf of their devotees to the President at the ceremony.

North Central Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake who organized the ceremony presented mementoes from people of Rajarata to the President, the Commanders of the Armed Forces, the IGP and the Director General of the Civil Defence Force.