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Thai PM to be chief guest Vesak Festival on a grand scale this year

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The Government has made arrangements to celebrate this year's Vesak Festival on a grand scale and invited Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to be the Chief Guest.

The festival will be given a more religious look to promote the traditional values of the Buddha Dhamma locally and internationally.

Justice, Law Reform, National Integration and Buddha Sasana Minister W. J. M. Lokubandara told a media briefing yesterday that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a National Committee to finalise arrangements for the Vesak programme 2003.

The Premier has already presented the draft programme to the Most Ven. Maha Nayaka Theras and they have given their concurrence to these Vesak festival arrangements, he said.

This year's Vesak Festival has two major themes. The local theme is "He who lives by the Dhamma is protected by the Dhamma." The foreign theme is "Vesak in Sri Lanka - a Unique Experience."

The Minister said this year's Vesak programme will be conducted for five days in Colombo and Greater Colombo areas and will also be held islandwide. A specific theme has been given for each day of the festival.

He said the key objective of this programme is to make the Vesak festival the most colourful religious event in Sri Lanka and focus the world community's attention towards this key national religious ceremony.

Measures have been taken to celebrate this year's Poson Festival on grander scale at Anuradhapura. In addition, a systematic programme has also been prepared to conduct the 2003 Kandy Esala Perahera.

There was no systematic programme to celebrate the previous Vesak festival. Therefore, the Premier has laid key emphasis to celebrate the Vesak Festival 2003 in a religious atmosphere to promote and foster the values of Vesak, he said.

Meanwhile, the Government has educated the Police and the chairmen of Pradeshiya Sabhas and Urban Councils to keep a close eye on the Vesak cards published and prevent the publication of meaningless Vesak cards.

Advisor on Sustainable Development and Chairman of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Ranveta Fund K.H.J.Wijayadasa said in order to achieve the objectives of the Vesak Festival, the National Committee chaired by Minister Lokubandara has appointed five Sub Committees.

He said each committee has been given responsibilities. The five committees will be headed by Minister Lokubandara, Human Resource Development, Education and Cultural Affairs Minister Dr.Karunasena Kodithuwakku, Tourism Minister Gamini Lokuge, Colombo Mayor Prasanna Gunawardene and Sri Lanka Telecom Chairman Thilanga Sumathipala.

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