2007-05-06

Amadahara on grand scale

Twenty -five schools in Colombo and suburbs have confirmed their participation in the Vesak Lantern Competition, organised by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd (Lake house) to coincide with the "Amadahara Vesak Program" on May 12, 13 and 14.

The lanterns will be displayed on either side of D.R. Wijewardene Mawatha, which will be named as Amadahara Vesak Zone'.

The lantern competition will be held in connection with the forthcoming 2550 th Buddha Jayanthi festival and it is open for school children and adults. Cash prizes amounting to Rs. 600,000 will be awarded to the winners.

Meanwhile Orange Electric, last week presented Rs. 2.5 million towards the `Amadahara Vesak Program'. Chief Executive Officer-Orange, Ananda Rajapakse signed the sponsorship agreement with ANCL Chairman Dr. Sunil Jayasekara.

The `Amadahara Vesak Zone' will cover a vast area in Colombo with Lake House and Sri Sambuddhaloka Viharaya as the centre of celebrations.

The Vesak Zone covers an area extending to the Gamini Cinema Hall junction, Colombo Harbour, Galle Face, Fort Railway Station, Technical Junction, President's House and Trans Asia Hotel.

Five main roads, the D.R. Wijewardene Mawatha, Chiththampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha, Olcott Mawatha, Chatham Street and Galle Road up to Galle Face roundabout will be decorated and illuminated during the three days of the festival.

In addition to the illuminations, the Zone will display attractive pandals,conduct bakthi Gee programs, stage drams with dansalas.

Leading public and private sector institutions including the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Sri Lanka Telecom, Bank of Ceylon, People's Bank, the Agra Srawaka Maha Viharaya, Magistrate Courts' Lawyers Association, Fort Police, Sri Lanka Air Force, Laksala, Eksath Bodhiraja Samithiya, private sector bankers, the Colombo Three Wheelers Association and the Pavement Hawkers Association will assist Lake House to conduct the program on a grand scale.

Meanwhile voluntary organisations, Buddhist societies and Buddhist temples within city limits and suburbs have also extended their co-operation to make the event a success.

The Independent Television Network, Lakhanda Radio and City FM will make a special telecast and broadcast on the proceedings of the program.

The ANCL last week released a special issue of the "Dinamina Vesak Magazine" in Sinhala and the `Daily News Vesak Annual' in English at Sambuddhaloka Temple, Fort to coincide with the "Amadahara Program".