25 April 2023 05:31 pm Views - 2114
The Ministry of Buddhasasana, Shasanarakshaka Bala Mandalaya, and the Department of Buddhist Affairs have issued guidelines to all temples regarding the holding of the Vesak week.
Lanka Janatha Party leader Venerable Akmeemana Dayarathana Thera told the media that the letter informed all the temples to display a banner (8 feet wide and 4 feet high) displaying the contents of the Vesak week celebration.
"We requested the Department of Buddhist Affairs to provide relevant funds to print the banner. But we have still not receive any funds. The banner costs at least Rs. 5,200," the Thera said.
According to the circular, temples are advised to conduct pinnapatha charika, tree planting programs and various religious activities such as Dharmadeshana during the week.
"The Ministry of Buddhasasana, Shasanarakshaka Bala Mandalaya, and the Department of Buddhist Affairs are not established to provide instructions to temples regarding the holding of the Vesak week," Ven. Dayarathana Thera said.
He said the said ministry, Mandalaya, and department should have done more fruitful things other than issuing guidelines. The said institutions have not even taken action to close all the liquor shops, butcher shops and meat shops around the country.
People are in a crisis situation and fed up with the current economic crisis. Therefore, all the temples in the country do not need any advice, the Thera said. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama and Indika Sri Aravinda)