---

The 62nd birthday of His Holiness the Apostolic Father Rohan Lalith Aponso was on 2nd February 2019. For Apostolic Father’s birthday, the Apostolic Father offered a delicious lunch for the elders reside at Aloka Elders Home, Panadura.

In the presence of these vulnerable elders who spend their old age alone, without the affection of their children, His Holiness the Apostolic Father cut and offered His 62nd birthday cake as well. We could see everyone at the Elders Home had decorated, prepared the residence to the best of their ability for His Holiness the Apostolic Father.

The Aloka Elders Home is located at the grounds of Sri Saddharmakara Vihara, Panadura. This Elders home is handled in accordance with the guidance of Most Ven. Talalle Mettananda Maha Thero, the Chief Incumbent of Sri Saddharmakara Vihara.

Addressing the elderly parents His Holiness the Apostolic Father held a sermon and it was visible that the residents were listening to His Holiness the Apostolic Father with great dedication. It was equally visible that tears fell from the eyes of several elders.

Quoting few verses from a song sang by one mother in the presence of His Holiness the Apostolic Father, His Holiness the Apostolic Father voiced that according to His knowledge this might be the only Elders Home operates within the grounds of a temple. Furthermore, His Holiness the Apostolic Father expressed that the prime reason the elders who live here can be considered as a group of fortunate people because this elder’s home is established in a temple ground. Therefore, everyone who lives here can be identified as people who receive comfort in the shade of the Lord Buddha. His Holiness the Apostolic Father also stated that in the teachings of Lord Buddha there are no divisions among religions or races. His Holiness the Apostolic Father praised the care received by all Buddhists, Christians, and Muslims in this establishment without any disparity.

Contemplating on the Elders Home built on one side of the elegantly established temple ground which located in a pleasant environment like this, we should initially think about the fact of how a temple constructed in this place; this temple was constructed because of Lord Buddha and to create such situation, Lord Buddha endured great sufferings and no one here today is willing to bear that same suffering, stated His Holiness the Apostolic Father. Also, He voiced that to comprehend the truth, Lord Buddha endured multitudinous sufferings; by starving Himself up to the point of feeling His stomach by placing a hand on His back or feeling His back by placing a hand on His stomach. In the end, the comfort you receive is a consequence of the multitudinous sufferings endured by Lord Buddha and the life you spend at this temple ground established as a result of Lord Buddha receiving Enlightenment through His sufferings; stated His Holiness the Apostolic Father Rohan Lalith Aponso.

His Holiness the Apostolic Father asked tenderly, from the elderly parents who looked surprised at His Holiness the Apostolic Father who described Lord Buddha, “I recounted what I knew about Lord Buddha. The consoles enjoyed by these mothers and fathers are a result of the sufferings of Lord Buddha. I am right, isn’t it?” His Holiness the Apostolic Father asked like a child of all elderly parents than a dear father. We could see everyone agreeing with His Holiness the Apostolic Father’s words by nodding their heads.

These images show His Holiness the Apostolic Father Rohan Lalith Aponso before offering the lunch for the elders reside at Aloka Elders Home Panadura, listening to their songs in celebration of His 62nd birthday