President Ranil Wickremesinghe inaugurated the ‘Buddha Rashmi’ Vesak Zone, which is the National Vesak celebration, organized by the Hunupitiya Gangarama Temple, in Colombo, on 03 May.The Vesak programme includes various events organized at the Galle Face Shangri-La Green and Presidential Secretariat Premises on 03, 04, 05, and 06 May.
During the inauguration, the President switched on the lights to mark the start of the Vesak programme and attended the ‘Bhakthi Gee’ event on the steps of the Presidential Secretariat.He then offered flowers to the Buddha statue and participated in religious rituals, at the Seemamalakaya of the Gangarama Temple.
The President also illuminated the ‘Buddha Rashmi Vesak Kalapaya’ electric lights to inaugurate the Vesak celebration.The South Asian Embassies and High Commissions had created exhibition booths at the Vesak Zone to showcase the Buddhist heritage of the Vesak region, which the President visited. He observed the designs and asked for details from the designers.
The President also made a note, in the commemorative book, at the exhibition hall of the Pakistani Buddhist heritage. Later, he visited the Gangarama Temple and received blessings from Venerable Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the Temple. Additionally, he had a friendly conversation with the local and foreign devotees who had come to visit the Buddha Rashmi Vesak programme.