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Two million pilgrims flock to A'pura, Mihintale

Thousands of pilgrims from all parts of the island have converged on Anuradhapura and Mihintale for religious observances today, Poson Poya Day. It was on a Poson Poya Day more than 2500 years ago that Arahant Mahinda arrived in Mihintale with the message of Buddhism.

Our correspondents reported unprecedented crowds in both sacred cities. Hundreds of pilgrims have come from the North-East for the first time. Long queues were also seen at the Sarananda Pirivena, Anuradhapura, where a special exposition of Sacred Relics of the Buddha is being held. Police, who expect more than two million devotees in Anuradhapura and Mihintale today, have deployed an additional 6,000 personnel to ensure security. Several 'dansalas' will operate in both cities.

Religious ceremonies will be held in temples islandwide to mark Poson. Devotees are expected to flock to a number of sacred places in the North-East which remained inaccessible during the past few years as a result of the war. Among them are the Naga Viharaya in Jaffna and the Somawathi Cetiya. The pinnacle of the Somawathi Cetiya will be unveiled this morning by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Later in the evening, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe will participate in the Mihintale Aloka Pooja, which is being conducted for the 40th consecutive year by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL) and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).

Power and Energy Minister Karu Jayasuriya last night switched on the electricity supply to Mihintale in the presence of the Maha Sangha, Ministers G.L.Peiris, W.J.M. Lokubandara and P.Harrison, Deputy Minister Sagala Ratnayaka, MP W.Ekanayake and ANCL and CEB management.

Most of the religious events in Anuradhapura and Mihintale will be broadcast live on TV and radio, including Ven. Kotapitiye Rahula Thera's Dhammadeshana this morning at Mihintale.

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