Govt. kicks off United Nations Vesak Day celebrations

The Government yesterday confirmed the participation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Sri Lanka’s first United Nations Vesak celebrations, along with the President of Nepal Bidhya Devi Bhandari. Kicking off the countdown for the celebration, Buddasasana Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said that a host of activities has been planned to celebrate the event. 

The Indian Premier is to take part in the opening ceremony on 12 May, while the Nepali President has been invited as the Chief Guest for the closing ceremony to be held in Kandy on 14 May. 

The international celebrations will kick off a day after the Vesak Poya, following the precedent set by Thailand and Vietnam, countries which have held the celebrations for the last 13 years. 

“We got this as a result of the lobbying done by the country last year. A request was made during the keynote address by Sri Lanka during last year’s celebrations in Thailand,” Dr.  Rajapaksa said. 

Although it was a resolution submitted to the United Nations by former Minister the late Lakshman Kadirgamar in 1999, which was adopted in 2001, the country had no opportunity to hold the celebration until now. Thailand and Vietnam have held UN Vesak celebrations since its implementation. 

The country’s first Vesak celebrations will be held during the three-day period with the participation of representatives from 46 countries including high level delegations from Vietnam, Myanmar, China, Laos, Bhutan, Cambodia and Thailand, Dr. Rajapaksa said.  

The Minister said there will be a host of activities, including a World Buddhist Forum on Communication to share experiences and explore new opportunities of modern communication, and the opening of ‘Sakya Janapadaya’, a model of the historic town in which the Buddha lived, built with Rs. 500 million worth of private donations,. - Pic by Upul Abayasekara