The sacred relics enshrinement ceremony at the historic Nilagiri Maha Seya, a significant landmark in Buddhist cultural history, took place yesterday (04 March 2025). The ceremony was held at Nilagiri Maha Seya, which stands 215 feet tall and 104 feet wide, located 19 km from the Siyambalanduwa-Pottuvil road, on the border of the Monaragala and Ampara districts in Eastern Province. The event was attended by the Deputy Chief of Staff of the SLAF, Air Vice Marshal Chaminda Wickramaratne.

The enshrinement of sacred relics was carried out in a solemn ceremony accompanied by Hewisi Pooja (traditional Buddhist drumming). Nilagiri Maha Seya was built with the full labour contribution of the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Among the distinguished attendees were the Mahanayake of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Chapter, Most Venerable Makulewe Wimala Mahanayake Thero, the Nauyana Aranya Senasanadhipathi Kammatthanacharya, Most Venerable Agulgamuwe Ariyananda Thero, the Registrar of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Chapter, Venerable Attanaganaye Sasanarathana Thero and the Chief Chairman of the Sangha Sabha of the Sri Kalyani Yogashrama, Polgasowita Vipassana Meditation Centre Kammatthanacharya Tripitakacharya, Most Venerable Meetalawe Vineetha Thero. Also present were members of the Maha Sangha, senior SLAF officers, other ranks, the Director General of the Department of Archaeology, Professor Thusitha Mendis and a large gathering of devotees.