President gotabaya assumes duties

• He was accorded a Guard of Honour by the tri-forces followed by  a 21-gun salute 

By Lahiru Pothmulla   

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa assumed duties as the 7th Executive President of Sri Lanka at a ceremony held at the presidential secretariat yesterday.   

He arrived at the presidential secretariat at around 10 in the morning amid Kandyan dancing and the blowing of conch shells. He was welcomed by his predecessor Maithripala Sirisena and former presidential secretary Udaya R. Seneviratne.   

Later the President was accorded a guard of honour by the tri-forces followed by a 21-gun salute by the Sri Lanka Army.   

Together with the Chief of Defence Staff and the tri-forces commanders, the President entered the secretariat and was blessed with Seth Pirith by the Maha Sangha. At the auspicious time of 10.51 am, President Rajapaksa assumed duties to the chanting of Seth Pirith by the Maha Sangha. 

• The President was accorded a guard of honour by the tri-forces followed by a 21-gun salute by the Sri Lanka Army