Official Wesak week declared

President Mahinda Rajapakse has declared a Wesak Week from today. During this week various Buddhist religious activities will be held throughout the country.

The General Registrar of the Samastha Lanka Shashanarakshaka Bala Mandalaya Venerable

Gonadoowe Gunanada Thero has requested all Buddhists to hoist a Buddhist flag in their houses during this week. He has said that the Wesak Full Moon day should be confined to religious activities and the Bhakthi Gee and other decoration activities including display of pandals and lanterns should be carried out from the following day onwards.

Shashanarakshaka Bala Mandalaya has requested all temples to get at least one person from a family to observe Sil on the Wesak full moon poya day.

It is also expected to ordain at least one child in each Viharaya.

The Venerable thero said that a fund has been established to construct houses for the parents who ordain their children.

At present the fund has five million rupees and it has provided assistance for the construction of 52 houses.

He said that arrangements have been made to provide housing assistance for another ten persons at the state function to be held under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapakse in Kandy.  

These houses will be constructed for the poor families under the Sasunata Sevena program.

It is expected to make five million people observe sil in temples throughout the country on the Wesak Full Moon poya day.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner General for Buddhsit Affairs Chandra Prema Gamage said that Wesak Zones will be established in Colombo and other major towns.

The Presidential Palace, Baudhaloka Mawatha, Hunupitiya Gangaramaya, Lake House are some of such Wesak zones.

Several wesak pandals will be established in Colombo and many other cities.

Pandals and colourful lanterns are expected to be erected at Colombo Fort, Peliyagoda, Dematagoda, Grandpass, Maharagama, Piliyandala, and Bauddhaloka Mawatha