Estimated 1.8 m Poson devotees

Nimal WIJESINGHE- Anuradhapura Additional District Group Correspondent

The Anuradhapura Poson festival comes to an end with the grand almsgiving for the Maha Sangha on June 19 marking the completion of traditional one week Poson pirith chanting at the Mahamevuna Uyana.

Anuradhapura Additional Government Agent K.B. Hettiarachchi told the Daily News that it was estimated that around 1.8 million devotees thronged the Sacred Zones during three days of the Poson religious observances.

Devotees had the maximum freedom and liberty in participating in religious observances while travelling freely without any security hindrance or barriers in the Anuradhapura and Mihintale Sacred Zones.

For the first time the three days 'Ruwanweli Chethiya Aloka Pooja' was held with state patronage.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa would make arrangements to continue the illumination project.

Also he is ambitious to launch a massive illumination project covering the Mahamevuna Uyana including the eight places of worship throughout the year," Ven Hemarathana Nayaka Thera emphasized.