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Vesak: Focus on religious ceremonies not State festivals

Fewer dansal and pandals due to possibility of night curfew and economic crisis

More emphasis will be given to religious ceremonies this Vesak in the aftermath of a week of mayhem, death and destruction as violence ripped through the country in the face of dire economic problems and political uncertainty.

Buddhist Affairs Commissioner General Sunanda Kariyapperuma said there would be no state functions but temples would mark Vesak, with one of the main religious events to be held at the Kuragala Rajamaha Viharaya in the Ratnapura District.

A few pandals had come up around Colombo city but with uncertainty over night time curfew in operation and the prevailing fuel crisis, organisers were not sure if they could draw crowds.

Meanwhile it was observed that there were only a few dansal organised by people. The Public Health Inspectors too said the number of registered dansal was also less this year. Public Health Inspectors Union Secretary S. I. Bopitiyage said compared to the past years there was only a 20 percent registration of dansal.

However he said they would conduct inspections of the dansal to see whether food was prepared in clean and sanitary conditions.

“We believe that the economic crisis, fuel and cooking gas shortage and the difficulties in organising events are the reasons for the lower number of dansal this year,” Mr. Bopitiyage said.

He said only one or two dansal were situated within most Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas and most of the dansal registered were offering rice and curry or refreshments.

In a Vesak message, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said resilience was essential in difficult situations. At this juncture when the country was in dire straits, all people's representatives must work together immediately for a solution on behalf of all citizens. The true goal should be to reach the desired target without deviating from the primary goal.

We must be mindful of the current situation and unite around a programme that could deliver a fair determination to all. That was the Buddhist policy. On this noble day of Vesak, I urge you to use the concept of Licchavi for this purpose and work together to resolve the crisis.

Meanwhile in a Vesak message, Opposition leader Sajith

Premadsa said Lord Buddha's message was that selflessness without greed for power, opportunistic behaviour or selfishness would make the world a beautiful place.

Meanwhile the Police said they would provide security according to the requirements of each area. A senior Police officer said they would deploy more officers to crowded areas and they would also use the support of Police intelligence to prevent violent incidents. Police media spokesman Nihal Thalduwa said they had instructed area Deputy Inspectors General to deploy adequate numbers of Police officers to provide security based on the need in their respective areas.

"We have already cancelled leave of Police officers and have deployed them in the field. Therefore more officers would be deployed near dansal and pandals where more people will gather," he said.

"We have instructed DIGs in

charge of Provinces to provide security accordingly. There is a need of setting up traffic plans in cities such as Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, as a large number of people are expected there for religious activities."

He said Police intelligence too was working towards avoiding and defusing violence if such activity took place, and extra Police officers had been deployed near the Presidential Secretariat and on Galle Road in Colombo.

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2022-05-15T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-15T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://sundaytimes.pressreader.com/article/281659668640147

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