Amadahara Vesak Zone to cover vast area in Colombo
 

by Nadira Gunatilleke

'Amadahara' (Amadahara Vesak Zone), the grand Vesak celebration organised by the Budusarana, The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL) and all State and private institutions located around the ANCL will light up the city of Colombo during this Vesak season.

The Amadahara Vesak Zone will cover a vast area in Colombo centred by the ANCL. The area extends towards Gamini Cinema Hall, Colombo Harbour, Galle Face, Fort Railway Station, President's House and the Trans Asia Hotel. The zone consists of attractive illuminations, Vesak decorations, Dansel, Bhakti Gee recitals, etc.

According to the Assistance General Manager, Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC), P. Pansalwatta, arrangements have already been made to illuminate the entire area giving a special feeling to the public.

The ANCL, Finance Ministry, President's Secretariat, HDFC, National Housing Development Authority, Transport Ministry, Inland Revenue Department, Harbour, Sri Lanka Telecom, Electricity Board, private and State banks, Fort Police and Armed Forces, Three Wheel Association, Pavement Hawks Association and several other State and private institutions will get together in this program.

Decorated arches will be built in the four entrances of the Vesak Zone to mark the boundaries of the zone. Huge flags with the Amadahara logo will be erected in the zone.

A radio transmission which will be set up within this zone will broadcast Buddhist songs, announcements, jingles and Buddhist news. This will prevent unnecessary sounds occur in the zone. Amadahara flags and stickers will be pasted on three wheelers. A special decorated box will be provided to houses and institutions in the zone to be illuminated during the festival.

All institutions will hold their own Vesak programs under the theme of 'Amadahara'. The ANCL will conduct its usual Vesak program including Vesak Lantern Competition and the Bhakti Gee recital on a grand scale.

Attractive cash prizes will be on offer for the winners of the ANCL Vesak lantern competition. The first prize will be Rs. 125,000 and the second prize will be Rs. 75,000. A cash prize of Rs. 50,000 will be offered for the third place winner. The fourth prize is Rs. 25,000 and the fifth prize is Rs. 10,000. Ten prizes of Rs. 5000 will also be offered. The winners from 11 th to 15 places will be offered Rs. 2500 each.

The agreements for the sponsorship for the competition which is Rs. 1 million was signed at a simple ceremony held at the ANCL on Monday with the participation of ANCL Chairman Janadasa Peiris, Orange Chief Executive Officer Ananda Rajapakse and several other officials from ANCL and Orange.

Orange, the number one company in electrical wiring accessories in Sri Lanka who manufacture Orange brand switches and sockets and who provided total lighting solutions for the 20 years have come forward as the main sponsor of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL) Vesak celebrations this year. This is the continues second successive year that Orange is sponsoring the ANCL Vesak celebrations.