July 17, Anuradhapura: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa participating in the 67th ordination ceremony of the Ramanya Maha Nikaya at the banks of Malwathu River in Anuradhapura yesterday said the country now has the ability to conduct an ordination ceremony even in Nagadeepa.

This was the first ordination ceremony to be conducted after the end of the three-decade long war.

A large number of monks and laymen participated in the occasion and Maha Nayake of the Ramanya Nikaya most venerable Weweldeniye Medhalankara Thera delivered an anusasana (sermon).

Opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinghe, parliamentarian Karu Jayasuriya, Minister S.M Chandrasena, Governor of the North Central Province Karunarathna Diulgane and Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake also attended the occasion.

(Pictures by Sudath Silva)