By K.D.Devapriya and 
Sumanasiri Gunatilleka

President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday (9) attended a religious observance at  Kataragama Kirivehera and at the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devala

First met Chief Sanghanayake of Ruhunu Magam Pattu and Chief Incumbent of the temple Ven Kobawaka Dhamminda Thera and attended religious observances at the Kirivehera Cheithiya. Later he met Adhikarana Sangha Nayake of the Ruhunu Magam Pattu and Chief Incumbent of the Sri Abhinawarama temple Ven., Kapugama Saranatissa Thera and received the blessings. He paid homage to the Astapala Bodhi in the Kataragama Maha Devala ground and attended a Pooja in the Maha Devala.

He instructed Basnayake Nilame Dishan Gunasekara to look into the needs of the Kataragama Sacred City and to provide adequate facilities to the pilgrims.  He instructed State Minister of Irrigation Shashindra Rajapakse to improve the irrigation facilities in the area to uplift agriculture.