44th Annual Gangaramaya Navam Maha Perahera day one

The first day of the Annual Nawam Maha Perahera of the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya temple, acclaimed as the greatest cultural event of the Colombo City, started yesterday for the 44th time. The perahera began after Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa placed the relic casket on the cushion inside the decorated enclosure on the back of the caparisoned tusker. Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also participated in the event – Pix by Shehan Gunasekara