Poson Poya festivities

Pilgrims will flock to Samadhi Buddha statue

Ariyapala Wansathilake Kurunegala central special correspondent

Thousands of pilgrims are expected to worship the ‘Samadhi Buddha Statue’ at Rambadagalla Monaragala Pirivena on Poson Poya day.

The Chief Incumbent of Monaragala ‘Samadhi Buduruwa committee’ Sastrapathi Egodamulle Amaramoli Thera has requested the pilgrims to behave in a cultured manner and abstain from liquor before they reach the Buduruwa rock.

Special transport facilities are provided from Kurunegala to Rambadagalla Monaragala “Samadhi Buddha Statue”. This is the highest Samadhi Buddha in Sri Lanka.

Temporary toilets have been set up for the convenience of pilgrims by the Buduruwa Dhayaka Sabha.

First aid and other facilities have also been arranged by the Rambadagalla police.

There will be five rice dansals from Kurunegala to Rambadagalla for the benefit of the people and several soft drinks dansals organised by the traders of Rambadagalla and Monaragala.

Egodamulle Amaramoli Thera told the media more than thousand Buddhist will observe Atasil and participate in a meditation programme on Poson Full Moon Poya day before the ‘Samadhi Buduruwa’. All Dhamma schools around Kurunegala have arranged special “Bhakthi Geetha” programmes at Divisional Secretariat level.

There will be a lantern competition organised by the Udawalpola Buddhist Association at the Udawalpola ground from June 18-20.

Kurunegala Athkanda Raja Maha Viharadhipathi Dr. Ven. Tumbulle Sri Seelakkanda Nayaka Thera, Kurunegala Madamegama Viharadhipathi Ven. Kattambuwe Gnarathana Thera and Gattuwana Sambodhi Viharadhipathi Pannananda Thera have organised religious ceremonies from June 18-20.

‘Poson Week’ hailed by all

B.W. Eheliyagoda, Kegalle special corr.

The declaration of a ‘Poson Week’ by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Government is hailed by Buddhist prelates and clergy and the prominent Buddhist laity. The President has declared a ‘Poson Week’ from June 15th to 21st.

In this predominantly Buddhist country it is quite appropriate to declare a Poson week and a step to that direction were the opinions of a lot of educated class in Kegalle.

The masses in this country, particularly the Buddhists will be grateful to President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his foresight which none of the past heads of Governments ever dreamt of resorting to a similar step such as declaring a Poson week. Several citizens in Kegalle observed.

All Buddhists and non Buddhists and all public are aware the historical importance of “Poson Full Moon Day”, as it was on a day similar that Buddhist philosophy was introduced to Sri Lanka by Venerable Arahat Maha Mahinda Thera in the reign of King Devanampaiyatissa somewhere in the period of 300 BC. creating a highly civilized nation in Sri Lanka along with a high and enormously rich culture of its own incomparable in the ancient world so said Chief Sanghanayake of Pahata Bulathgama, Three Korales, Sathara Korales and Kegalle Maha Disawe Venerable Dr. Hemmathagama Siddhartha Thera to the Daily News.

The Poson period is as holy as the Vesak as both these were referred to as most significant occurrences in the history of this thrice blessed land, the learned prelate Venerable Dr. Hemmathagama Siddhartha Thera said.

To the merciful, to abhor killings and to practise all that is good and to shun evil in this Poson period was the doubtless message the President was trying to convey all ethnicity at this period.

PB creates student interest

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional district group correspondent

The People’s Bank Anuradhapura through its ‘Sisu Udana’ Thrift development programme, being successfully implemented in the North Central Province, is engaged in encouraging students to participate in religious activities.

During the Vesak festive season the Anuradhapura People’s Bank conducted a ‘Sisu Udana’ Vesak Lantern Competition with 50 schools participating. The first and the third places of the contest of Vesak lanterns, sponsored by Anuradhapura main branch, were won by Anuradhapura Swarnapali Girls National School. Tissa Maha Vidyalaya Ratmale, bagged the cash prize for the second place.

P. M. Dharmapriya A. G. M. People’s Bank Anuradhapura told the “Daily News” that for selecting the best three Vesak lantern creations of the district and seven most attractive lanterns along with it, a grand exhibition of lanterns which have won the first places at the contests, held by the branches of the People’s Bank in Anuradhapura area is being arranged on June 18th and 19th in the premises of the Anuradhapura Regional Office, during ‘Poson’ religious days.

He said that students contributing to ‘Sisu Udana’ students thrift development movement have been invited to forward their creative lanterns depicting ‘Dhamma’ for this grand lanterns contest which awards cash prizes amounting to Rs. 15,000, Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 5,000 for the first three creations and seven more consolation prizes of Rs. 1,000.