COLOMBO (News 1st): The final rites of Most Venerable Aggamaha Panditha Kotugoda Dhammawasa Thero will take place tomorrow, and thereby Thursday, the 25th of March 2021 has been declared as a Day of Mourning.

The decision reached following a proposal made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Cabinet Meeting on Tuesday (Mar. 23).

Accordingly, all liquor stores, taverns, and meat shops in the Colombo District will remain closed on Thursday (Mar. 25).

Most Ven. Aggamaha Panditha Kotugoda Dhammawasa Thero, the Mahanayake of the Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Nikaya passed away on Monday morning (Mar. 22) while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo.

The remains of the Late Most Ven. Thero is currently placed at the Dhamapalarama Temple in Mount Lavinia for the public to pay their respects.

The final rites of Late Most Ven. Aggamaha Panditha Kotugoda Dhammawasa Thero will be conducted at Independence Square on Thursday (Mar. 25) with full state honors.

The Late Most Ven. Aggamaha Panditha Kotugoda Dhammawasa thero was 88 years of age at the time of his demise.

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