Series of religious blessing programs to mark 76th anniversary of SL Army

Tuesday, 7 October 2025 03:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Sri Lanka Army has commenced a series of multi-religious blessing ceremonies in connection with its 76th Anniversary, falling on 10 October.

These programs, held across the country, invoked blessings on the Army, its personnel, and the motherland, reflecting the nation’s rich religious and cultural traditions.

The inaugural ceremony was held on 26 September at the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, Anuradhapura, under the patronage of Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo. A procession, carrying flags of all Army establishments, began near the historic Ruwanweli Seya and proceeded to the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, where the flags were blessed before the sacred tree.

Simultaneously, Hindu religious rites were conducted at the Sri Kandasamy Kovil, Vavuniya, also under the patronage of the Army Commander. In addition, the Commander paid a special visit to ‘Abhimansala 1’ wellness resort in Anuradhapura, where he inquired into the wellbeing of disabled veterans undergoing treatment.

Continuing the blessings, a flag blessing ceremony was held at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), Kandy, on 28 September and special religious ceremony was held at the sacred Kataragama Kirivehera and Devala premises on 29 September. The Commander of the Army, together with senior officers, officers, and other ranks from all regiments, attended these historic occasions.

As part of the inclusive series of events, Christian and Islamic religious ceremonies were also held. On 1 October, a special Holy Mass was conducted at St. Thomas’ Church, Kotte, presided over by Bishop of the Archdiocese of Colombo His Eminence Anton Ranjith, along with other Christian clergy, to invoke blessings on Army flags. The following day, 02 October, a special Qirath prayer session was conducted at the Jummah Mosque, Kollupitiya, with the participation of Chief Priest Riswan Maulavi and several other maulavis.

Senior Officers, officers, and other ranks representing all regiments of the Sri Lanka Army joined these events, reaffirming the Army’s longstanding tradition of seeking the blessings of all major faiths in Sri Lanka as it enters its 76th year of service to the nation.