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President Ranil Wickremesinghe inaugurated the ‘Buddha Rashmi’ Vesak Zone, which is the National Vesak celebration, organised by the Hunupitiya Gangarama Temple in Colombo on May 3. The Vesak programme includes various events organised at the Galle Face Shangri-La Green and the Presidential Secretariat Premises, which are open for the public, on May 3, 4, 5, and 6.
During the inauguration, the President illuminated the lights to mark the start of the Vesak programme and attended the ‘Bhakthi Gee’ event on the steps of the Presidential Secretariat.
Thereafter, he offered flowers to the Buddha statue and participated in religious rituals at the Seemamalakaya of the Gangarama Temple.
The President also illuminated the “Buddha Rashmi Vesak Kalapaya” to inaugurate the Vesak programme. The South Asian Embassies and High Commissions had set up exhibition booths at the Vesak Zone to showcase the Buddhist heritage, which the President visited.
He observed the designs and asked for details from the designers. The President also made a note in the commemorative book at the exhibition hall of the Pakistani Buddhist heritage. Later, he visited the Gangarama Temple and received blessings from Chief Incumbent of the Temple Ven. Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thera.
He also had a friendly conversation with local and foreign devotees who visited the Buddha Rashmi Vesak Zone.
The Maha Sangha, including Ven. Prof. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkhita Thera of the Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Ministers Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, Manusha Nanayakkara, Naseer Ahmed, State Minister Suren Raghavan, Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Staff to the President Sagala Ratnayake, President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, Defence Ministry Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne (Retired), Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay, Pakistan High Commissioner Major General Umar Farooq Burki, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces General Shavendra Silva, Army Commander Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Inspector General of Police C. D. Wickramaratne, Foreign Ambassadors, High Commissioners and several others were present.
Friday, May 5, 2023 – 01:00