Ven. Ananda Thera visits Jaffna to bless High Court Judge

The Venerable Buddhangala Ananda Thera of the Ampara Buddhangala forest hermitage visited Jaffna yesterday morning and called on the Jaffna High Court Judge Manikkavasagar Illancheniyan at the High Court complex,in order to invoke blessings on him.

Ven Buddhangala Ananda Thera (Formally Major General Ananda Weerasekara) entered monkhood on retirement after serving in the army.the Jaffna commanding officer Major General Dharshana Hettiaratchchi was also present on this occasion.

The Thera was greeted at the Jaffna Court complex and worshipped by the High Court Judge.the Thera after chanting Seth Pirith tied the Pirith Noola on the wrist of the Judge as a ritual.

The Judge informed the Thera that some of his friends living abroad had contributed funds towards the construction of a house to his slain bodyguard Sergeant Sarath Hemachandra who was killed in a shooting incident in Jaffna recently and by this time Rs 2 million had been received from his friends for the purpose.

Ven.ananda Thera speaking to Daily Mirror said that High Court Judge Illancheniyan had knelt before the widow of the slain sergeant and asked for forgiveness,crying like a small child. This was a very moving incident. It was a Sinhalese who died,the High Court Judge is a Tamil national.this was a message of national reconciliation to the entire world. In pain or misery there is no difference whether you are a Sinhalese,tamil or Muslim.pain and suffering is common to everyone.

The teardrop that falls at the plight of someone or the sigh has no ethnic difference,like love and affection.

The High Court Judge has even gone to the extent of accepting to look after the future of the two children of the deceased sergeant .This is a very noble act,and I presented him with a letter of appreciation of this rare deed.