President’s Secretary, Saman Ekanayake has announced that this year’s Vesak festival is set to be celebrated on a grand scale, as per the instructions of President and Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies Ranil Wickremesinghe.

During the preliminary discussion on the “Buddha Rashmi National Vesak Festival” held on Tuesday (21) at the Presidential Secretariat, Ekanayake mentioned the plans to celebrate the festival in a grand manner. The festival is scheduled to be held from 5 - 7 May at the Gangarama Temple, the Presidential Secretariat and the Prime Minister’s Office premises in Colombo. Ven. Kirinde Assaji Thera said that it has been organised along with many programmes, thereby naming it the National Vesak Zone.

On Vesak Poya Day, 5 May, the observance of Sil (Buddhist ritual involving precepts) will be done at the Gangarama Temple, along with various other programmes such as decorating the Vesak region with flags, pennants, lanterns, and light bulbs, conducting flower processions, and displaying pandols. The Bakthi Geetha (devotional songs) recital will be held near the main stage of the Presidential Secretariat and the Gangarama Temple while Vesak dansal (provision of food and drink) will also be held near the Gangarama Temple and the Presidential Secretariat.

Furthermore, the monk emphasised that the Vesak festival presents an opportunity to attract tourists and to promote the country’s tourism industry.

Moreover, Ekanayake expressed his hope to receive support from both the public and private sectors in order to ensure the success of the Vesak Zone.

Government officials, security chiefs and representatives of sponsored private institutions attended the discussion.