THE Sri Lankan embassy, in association with the Myanmar-Sri Lanka Rama Temple in Bahan township, organised a festival of lights at Shwedagon Pagoda last week to celebrate one of the most important events on the Buddhist calendar.

»The Sri Lankan ambassador, Mr D.M.M. Ranaraja (right) and the Minister of Religious Affairs, Brigadier-General Thura Myint Maung, at the ceremony

The ceremony on the evening of May 2, the eve of the full moon day of Kason, the second month of the Myanmar year, was held to mark the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Lord Buddha.

The anniversary, known in Sri Lanka as Vesak, is celebrated there the day after the full moon day of Kason. It is celebrated in Myanmar on the full moon day.

In collaboration with the Myanmar devotees, the embassy displayed colourful
Vesak lanterns at the Daw Saw Mya Hall at the pagoda, where 1000 oil lamps were also lit to mark the occasion.

A ceremony also included a sermon given by the Venerable Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Baddanada Nyar-neinda from the Myanmar-Sri Lanka Rama Temple. The Minister of Religious Affairs, Brigadier-General Thura Myint Maung, was the special guest at the event.

At the end of program, the Sri Lankan ambassador, Mr D.M.M. Ranaraja, handed a donation to the minister which will go towards development projects at the pagoda.