State Vesak ceremony at Temple Trees today

COLOMBO (News1st): The state Vesak ceremony will be held at the Temple Trees on Wednesday, the buddhist affairs department said. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will be part of the small-scale ceremony at his official residence which will see the participation of a limited crowd. The Chief Prelates of the three sects will also attend the ceremony, Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs, Sunanda Kariyapperuma noted. With restrictions imposed due to COVID-19, Sri Lanka will witness muted celebrations of the otherwise glamorous Vesak festival which is celebrated to mark the birth, enlightenment, and demise of lord Buddha. The State Vesak Festival will take place from May 6 to 8 at the Horana Gonapola Olaboduwa Purana Rajamaha Viharaya in Kalutara. The government has declared a national Vesak week from May 4 to 11, and has ordered liquor stores, casinos, and meat stalls to remain closed during this period.