Sri Lanka, Sept. 20 -- The 156th birth anniversary commemoration of Anagarika Dharmapala was held under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Mahabodhi Agrashravaka Maha Vihara in Maligakanda on Thursday.

The President was received by Mahabodhi Society Chairman and Chief Sanghanayaka of Japan Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thera.

After paying a floral tribute to the memorial of Anagarika Dharmapala,President Rajapaksa planted a sapling of Rath Handun to mark the launch of Suwa Dharani, the traditional medicine preservation project by the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine.

The President who was engaged in religious observances at Dathu Mandira at Agrashravaka Vihara, paid a floral tribute before the Dharmapala statue in the main ha...