Buddha Rashmi Vesak Festival and related Vesak events inaugurated in Colombo
The Buddha Rashmi Vesak Festival in Colombo, organized under the guidance of Venerable Kirinde Assaji Thero of the Gangaramaya Temple, was officially inaugurated under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. Following the opening ceremony, the Prime Minister also participated in the opening of the dansala held within the Gangaramaya Temple premises.
Later on 31 May afternoon, the Prime Minister attended the inauguration of the Sri Sarvajna Sacred Relic Exhibition held at the Dharma Shasthrodaya Pirivena Temple in Piliyandala. Upon arrival, she paid respects to the Chief Incumbent and received blessings, before offering gilanpasa to the Sacred Relics enshrined in the Dharma Hall. The relic exhibition was then officially opened for public veneration.
The Kotikawatta–Mulleriyawa Vesak Zone, organized under the guidance of Venerable Dodamgolle Pannananda Thero, Chief Incumbent of Sri Suramyaramaya Temple, Madinnagoda, was also inaugurated under the Prime Minister’s patronage. During the event, she lit the Vesak pandal depicting the Yamamah Perahera, organized by the Kotikawatta–Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha. A Bathi Gee performance organized by the Kolonnawa Young Buddhist Association and the Kolonnawa East and West Sasanarakshaka Mandalayas was also held, with sponsorship from the United Traders’ Association.
The event was attended by members of the Maha Sangha, Ministers Wasantha Samarasinghe and Sunil Watagala, Member of Parliament Lakshman Nipunarachchi, diplomatic corps representatives, local authority chairpersons, the Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, government officials, and a large number of devotees.
