A Vesak Day commemoration was held at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Headquarters in Rome on June 3.
This was in keeping with the United Nations’ Resolution moved by former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar' on February 8, 2000 in the UN which internationally recognized the Day of Vesak as the day most sacred for Buddhists all over the world.
Vesak Day was commemorated at the FAO Headquarters for the first time in 2004. This is the fifth time that the Vesak commemoration was held at the FAO. The Embassy of Sri Lanka and the Royal Thai Embassy in Rome jointly organised the event.
The international recognition of the Day of Vesak by the United Nations constitutes the Acknowledgement of the contribution that the Buddha has made over two and a half millennia to the spirituality of mankind.
Eight Buddhist priests, members of the diplomatic community and officials of the Rome based UN Agencies such as FAO, WFP and IFAD participated in the event.
The programme included an alms-giving, a special Dhamma talk on the topic of “Buddha’s invitation to Awakening,” which was delivered by Ven. Ajahn Chandapalo, Senior Monk of the Thai Temple in Rieti, Italy, and discussions on the Dhamma.
The Thai Ambassador Somsakdi Suriyawongse, addressed the gathering, while Mrs. Aruni Ranaraja, Chargè d’Affaires of Sri Lanka, read out a message from Ambassador Hemantha Warnakulasuriya who was unable to attend the event as he was out of the country. |
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