ANCL Aloka Pooja enters second day

The Minister of Power and Energy,John Seneviratne illuminating the Mihintale ‘Aloka Pooja’ organised by ANCL yesterdayCultural and National Heritage Minister,Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene,NCP,Chief Minister,Berty Premalal Dissanayake,ANCL Chairman, Anil J.Obeysekere,Director(Editorial),Karu Paranavithana and leading Buddhist monks participated. Pic by- Chaminda Hittetiyage  

by Ananda Kannangara -

The 44th annual `Aloka Pooja' for Poson festival, organised by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd (Lake House) at the sacred city of Mihintale will be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa today (June 11) at 6.30 p.m. Media Minister Anuara Priyadharshana Yapa will also participate.  

According to the organising committee, the entire city of Mihintale will be illuminated with over 50,000 colorfull bulbs and Buddhist flags for three days. The first day of `Aloka Pooja' was opened by the Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake together with Power and Energy Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne and Cultural Affairs Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene yesterday.  

Managing Director of Abans Limited, Mrs. Aban Pestonjee the main sponsor of this year's `Aloka Pooja' on Friday handed over the sponsorship cheque to ANCL Chairman Anil Obeysekere. Ceylon Electricity Board is the co-sponsor of the `Aloka Pooja'.  

Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs. Pestonjee hailed the ANCL for organising the festival to celebrate the Poson every year on a grand scale. She said, as a non Buddhist, she was happy to contribute to a worthy cause.  

ANCL, Chairman, Anil Obeysekere and CEB Chairman Chula Delgoda will be the chief guests tomorrow .  

Meanwhile the ANCL has organised a Mihindu Perahera at Mihintale to coincide with the Aloka Pooja and also have made arrangements to unveil a statue of King Devanampiyatissa, at Mihintale Raja Maha Viharaya.