KANDY — A special Buddha Pooja to the Sacred Tooth Relic with the participation of the Most Ven. Uudugama Sri Buddharakkitha Mahanayake Thero of Asgiriya was held at the Sri Dalada Maligawa to commemorate the founder Chairman of the Upali Group who disappeared with several others, 22 years ago.

Ven. Kahawatte Saranangkara and Ven. Warakagoda Gnanaratana Theros and secretary to the Diyawadana Nilame Lakshman Dharmapriya also attended the pinkama.

Delivering a brief Anusasanawa Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Mahanayake Thero said the Sri Lankan nation lost an intelligent and efficient leader of the calibre of Upali Wijewardena at a time he was taking measures to set up important plans for the development of one country.

His disappearance was an irreparable loss, the prelate noted.

However it is exemplary that the grateful people connected with the group founded by him continued to commemorate him regularly for the last 22 years, the prelate added.

At mid-day on Sunday the inmates of the Elders Home at Mulgampola maintained by the Kandy Friend in Need society were entertained to lunch. The programme was organized by the Kandy branch of the Upali Newspapers, the News Agent for Upali Newspapers, Harischandra Agencies and the management of the Kundasale Kandos Chocolate Factory.

Present on the occasion were head of he Kandy Branch of the Upali Newspapers Prabotha Wijekoon, Kandy Chief News Agent — L. H. Harischandra, Kandos Chocolate Factory Plant Manager Sumedha Wijeyaratne, Production Services Manager (Kandos) Dilanjan Polgolla, Production Manager Nalaka Abeykoon, and Factory Engineer Ajith Vidanapathirana.