Venerable Keppetiyagoda Gunawansa Thero was felicitated by Buddhist Communities in Hounslow

Venerable Keppetiyagoda Gunawansa Thero was felicitated by Buddhist Communities in Hounslow - 5th June 2011

Report & Pictures by the organising committee

Most Venerable Keppetiyagoda Gunawansa Thero, the head monk of Jethavana Buddhist vihara in Birmingham was honored by SriLankan Buddhist Community living in Hounslow. The felicitation ceremony in an honour of Keppetiyagoda Gunawansa thero was held on 5^th of June 2011 at Feltham Assembly Hall in Hounslow with an audience of 500 invited guests.

This was serene and peaceful occasion which included valuable speeches from the guests who graced the occasion. He was felicitated upon his appointment as a great Sangha Nayaka for the UK to represent Srilanka Ramanna Nikaya and the honourably title of “The Light of international Dhamma Mission” conferred to him by SriLanka Ramanna Nikaya as a recognition of his dedicated service on international Buddhist mission. Amongst the special guests who attended the ceremony were Most Venerable Dr. Nagoda Amarawansa Nayaka Thero, the head monk of Srilanka Vidyalaya in Colombo and Working Committee member of Ramanna Nikaya.

The chief Sangha Nayaka for Great Britain and the head monk of Sri Saddatissa international Buddhist Centre in Kingsbury Most Venerable Galayaye Piyatissa Thero. The Head of London Buddhist Vihara and President of Sangha Council in the UK, Most Venerable Bogoda Seelawimala Thero.Venerable Pundith Teldeniye Amitha, Head monk of Leicester Buddhist temple. Venerable Tawalama Bandula Thero,Venerable Akurana Amitha, The Head monk of Lechworth Buddhist temple. Venerable Bambarakotuwe Ananda Mangala,Venerable Nepale Sumana Thero, Wanduramba Kassapa, Venerable Konwewe Ariyarathana Thero, Srilankan Acting High commissioner for Britain Mr. A.M Amza. His worshipful Mayor of London Borough of Hounslow Councillor Amrith Mann and senior Councillor and Labour Leader of Hounslow Council Mr. Jugdish Sharma. The dance performances and Buddhist devotional songs were presented by the students of Midland Sarasi performing Arts school which run under the guidance of Mrs Kashmi Dissanayake and a group of Artists led by Mr. Attanayake.