Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena chaired a key discussion on the organization activities of the United Nations Day of Vesak to be celebrated in Sri Lanka in 2017.
The meeting was held at the President’s Official Residence on Monday (Sept. 12).
This United Nations Day of Vesak is celebrated annually in Buddhist countries. This is the first time Sri Lanka has been given the opportunity to host this festival.
Over thousand representatives from India, China, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Tibet, Bhutan, Mongolia and other countries where Buddhism is practiced will participate in the event.
President Sirisena instructed the relevant Ministries and officials to make necessary arrangements to hold the Vesak celebrations in a grand manner. The President instructed the Minister of Justice and Buddha Sasana, Wijayadasa Rajapaksha to appoint a Cabinet Sub Committee to organize the International Vesak Day celebration.
The President further instructed to hold monthly meetings under his patronage to review the progress of the initiatives taken to hold this event successfully.
The Maha Sangha including, Most Venerable Thrikunamale Ananda Mahanayake Thero, Most Venerable Niyangoda Dharmasiri Sri Sangharakkitha Vijithasiri Anu Nayaka Thero, Most Ven. Dr Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangarakkitha Thero, Ministers, Secretaries to the Ministries and many others participated in this event.