State Vesak Festival on May 6:
'SL will share local rights heritage with West'
Chamikara WEERASINGHE
Prime Minister D M Jayaratne said Sri Lanka will point out to the
Western world how human rights and equality have prevailed in Sri Lanka
founded on and inspired by the teachings of the Buddha for many
thousands of years, even as they wield a heavy hand on the island over
human rights issues.
"We shall send a strong message to the international community
through this year's State Vesak Festival," the Prime Minister said.
He added: "It will be a worthy act on our part to share our knowledge
on human rights and equality of treatment, which is our legacy from the
past based on Buddhist teachings and culture, for the benefit of many
countries and nations, as we mark the Vesak Festival this year."
Prime Minister Jayaratne said this at a meeting held at his office
with the State Vesak Festival Organizing Committee where he announced
that the State Vesak Festival this year will be held on May 6 in the
Kandy district.
The decision was taken on the instructions of President Mahinda
Rajapaksa to arrange for the festival to celebrate the 2600th Buddha
Jayanthi to be held in the historic Senkadagalapura where the Buddha's
sacred Tooth Relics lie in the Sri Dalada Maligawa, he said.
"The government will provide dana for all the devotees who take part
in religious ceremonies at the temple. The government requests the
public who enter the Pooja bumi of the Temple to dress in white. The
State Vesak Festival will commence at 3 pm.
Kelaniya University Chancellor Most Ven Prof Walamitiyawe Kusala
Dhamma Nayaka Thera said: " It has been clearly mentioned and explicitly
detailed in the doctrine how one should conduct oneself to be at peace
with oneself and others. The foreign countries trying to tutor Sri Lanka
on human rights is simply laughable. The Vesak Full Moon Day is an
important day to nations the world over."
"From the time, the country received the doctrine of the Buddha from
India, the public of this country have behaved well and fulfilled
their duties and responsibilities. Hence the country has prevailed
without any issues of the sort," explained the thera.
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