Devotees in large numbers are arriving at the Vihare to pay their last respects to the Mahanayake Thera. The remains of the Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Thera, the Asgiriya Mahanayake Thera, were brought in motorcade from Colombo to Kandy on April 9.

A large group including the members of the Asgiri Maha Vihare Karaka Sangha Sabha joined in accepting the remains of the Mahanayake Thera at the entrance to the Asgiriya Maha Vihare. Large crowds lined the motorcade route from Colombo to Kandy to offer their final tributes to the Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter of the Siam Sect.

Sunday the 12th, the day on which the funeral will be held, has been declared a day of mourning. Accordingly, all private and state institutions are requested to fly the national flag at half-mast on this day.