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Main Vesak celebration at Purana Rajamaha Vihara, Hambantota
Getting ready for Vesak in Colombo city. Pix by Indika Handuwala and M.A. Pushpa Kumara
Several state-sponsored programmess to coincide with Vesak will be held this year too with the declaration of Vesak Week from May 18 to 24, Justice and Buddha Sasana Minister Wijedasa Rajapaksha said.
The main Vesak celebration will be held on May 18 at Naigala Purana Rajamaha Vihara, Hambantota. The highlights of this event would be the ordination of 35 novice monks and the Rajamaha Viharaya precints being declared a sacred city by President Maithripala Sirisena.
An alms giving for 3000 students would also be conducted at the event.
“The President will issue a stamp commemorating Vesak while several Relics of Lord Buddha would also be on exposition,” the Minister said.
Mr. Rjapakasha said President Sirisena would also handover house deeds to parents of several samanera monks under the Buduputh Mapiya Niwasa programme of the Housing and Construction Ministry.
Meanwhile, The United Nations will mark Vesak in Thailand and Minister Rajapaksha would be addressing the event. He said during his address he would request that the UN sponsored 2017 Vesak festival be held in Sri Lanka.
| CMC to assist city temples The Colombo Municipal Council would give cash donations to 105 temples within the city limits to facilitate Vesak celebrations. |
| UN office here to mark Vesak at Gangaramaya The United Nation’s (UN) office in Colombo will participate in events at the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo to mark Vesak. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe too would be present. The UN will highlight the importance of the international holiday and the important role that Sri Lanka played in gaining this international holiday. |
| Reflect on the words of the Buddha in these times of upheaval– Ban Ki Moon UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in his message to commemorate Vesak said that at a time of mass population movements, violent conflicts, atrocious human rights abuses and hateful rhetoric aimed at dividing communities, the sacred commemoration of the Day of Vesak offers an invaluable opportunity to reflect on how the teachings of Buddhism can help the international community tackle pressing challenges. “The fundamental equality of all people, the imperative to seek justice, and the interdependence of life and the environment are more than abstract concepts for scholars to debate; they are living guidelines for Buddhists and others navigating the path to a better future,” the UNSG said in his message. He added that in a few weeks, the United Nations would convene the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit, where leaders will join activists and other partners to address the needs of millions of vulnerable people in crisis. “Buddhists and individuals of all faiths who are concerned about the future of humanity can help advance the Summit’s aims to uphold humanitarian law, protect civilians in conflict, and improve the global response to emergencies,” he said. The UN annually commemorates Vesak as a Day of National Observance, a move that was successfully initiated in 1998 by former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar on the recommendation of the International Buddhist Conference.
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