The Ven. Dedunupitiye Upananda Thera was conferred with the title of “Dharma Dutha Shashthra Naipunya” by the the Asgiriya Chapter Sangha Council including the Most Ven. Aggamahapanditha Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Mahanayake Thero , appreciating the service rendered by the venerable Thera to promote Buddhism in the USA.

Delivering a special sermon, the Ven.Dedunupitiye Upananda Thera said that he arrived in the country after 17 years and he was amazed to see the development the country has achieved through the leadership of  President Mahinda Rajapaksa which no other state leader was able to achieve.

Ven.Ellawala Medhananda Nayaka Thera, Ven.Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera, Chief Incumbent of Udammita Sri Sumanarama Vihara  Ven.Kariyagama Sri Gunanda Thera, Ministers G.L.Peiris, Salinda Dissanayake, Deputy Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Candadian High Commissioner Mm.Shelley Chiting were present at the ceremony.(kh)