All facilities for Poson pilgrims

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional district group corr

The Anuradhapura National Poson Festival Steering Committee is gearing up to provide all facilities to pilgrims visiting Anuradhapura and Mihintale during the Poson season. Nearly two million devotees are expected to converge on Anuradhapura and Mihintale during the Poson week from June 4 to 10.

The Steering Committee which met at the Anuradhapura District Secretariat resolved to request the Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry to declare Monday June 8 as a public holiday in lieu of Poson Poya day falling on Sunday June 7.

The illumination of whole Mihintale (Mihintale Aloka pooja) by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited will be held for three days from June 6.

In view of the prevailing peaceful environment over 100,000 devotees are expected to participate in the Sil campaign being organized at Atamasthanaya Samadhi Statue in Mahamevunava and Mihintale on Poson Full Moon day.

Assistant General Manager of the North Central region of the People’s Bank P. M. Dharmapriya said arrangements are being made to provide Heel Dhana to 20,000 sil observers close to the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi along with 20,000 packs of bottled water on Poya day, at a cost of Rs. 1.5 million.

Meat stalls and liquor shops in Anuradhapura district will be closed from June 4 to 10 to mark poson.

Devotees wouldn’t be allowed to use Tisawewa and Nuwaraweva for bathing and they can use Abayawewa and Mahakanadarawa tanks alternatively instead.