North and East celebrate Vesak with unprecedented enthusiasm

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

The public in the North and East celebrated the Vesak festival on May 17 and 18 with unprecedented enthusiasm with thousands of members of the Tamil public joining hands with the Buddhist public.

Jaffna District Secretary Emilda Sukumar yesterday said she saw many Vesak lanterns and pandals along the A-9 road during a drive through the province on Vesak day. "People have turned up in great numbers to see Vesak," she said.

"There were 21 large Vesak lanterns on display by the police and security forces personnel in front of Jaffna Library.

These were huge lanterns. Many people came to see these items," she said.

The Tamil public had a chance of listening to Buddhist Jathaka stories at the festival. The people enjoyed festivities at Jaffna Library to their heart's content with their new found freedom with no terror standing in their way against peace and harmony among the people.

"Hundreds of men, women and children from resettled families were seen around the lanterns enjoying their splendour," she said.