President Gotabaya Rajapaksa says that the government has assured through actions that Sri Lanka’s ancient Buddhist heritage sites are safeguarded and that it will continue to provide patronage to protect the country’s values, traditions and customs. He made these observations while addressing the Maha Sangha during a ceremony held on Sunday to bestow him with the honorary title of “Sri Lankadheeshwara Padma Vibhushana” by the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha. The President said they were able to successfully control the pandemic that engulfed the world for two years.  President Rajapaksa pledged to protect and nurture the Buddhist philosophy in this country.  He said he will always uphold the right of all Sri Lankans to live in peace and harmony by preserving their religious identities and to live with dignity in association with the main culture of this country that persisted throughout the history.