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This year, the State Vesak festival has been decided to be held with Matale district as the primary focus and the progress review meeting was held by the Central Province Governor, Advocate Lalith Yu. It was held recently (07) at Sri Dharmaraja Temple, Vihara Road, Matale under the chairmanship of Mr. Gamage.
This year's Rajya Vesak festival will be held with the theme 'Attano Cha Achekkheyya Kataniakhathani Cha' - 'Let us not look at what others have done but what they have done' and the opening ceremony will be held at Matale Vihara Road, Sri Dharmaraja Maha Piriven Precinct and the closing ceremony will be held at Pallepola Millawana Sri Sunandarama. It has been decided to hold at the temple.
Accordingly, various religious and cultural programs will be held from 21st to 27th of May, cultural programs will be held on May 21 in conjunction with Rajya Vesak, environmental conservation and good health habits programs on May 22, On May 23rd, Seela Bhavana Pinkama (Vesak Poho Day Program), on May 24th, values promotion programs, on May 25th, programs conducted according to Sambuddha's sermons for a healthy life, on May 26th, spiritual development programs, on May 27th, Bhikshu and Arrangements have been made to conduct Sil Mata training programs.
Also, there will be special programs such as the development of 11 temples in the 11 Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Matale District, Vesak Bathi songs, lanterns, Vesak Pantheons, environmental and cultural aspects and pindapata programs, blood donation programs, etc., all religious elements.
On this occasion, Mugunwela Anuruddha, registrar of the All Ceylon Police Force, Kosgolle Seelarathana, chairman of the Matale District Police Force, Maha Sangharatna, Chairman of the Matale District Coordinating Committee, Member of Parliament Nalaka Kottegoda, Buddhashasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry Secretary Somaratne Vidanapathirana, Central Province Chief Secretary Ajith Premasinghe, Buddhist Affairs Commissioner General R.M.P. Ratnayake, Governor's Secretary Manjula Madahapola, Matale District Governor Tejani Thilakaratne, three armed forces and police officers, public and private sector officials and others joined the occasion.
The 108th birthday celebration of the late Sirimavo Bandaranaike, who will go down in history as the world's first female Prime Minister, was held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall premises recently (17).
Former President Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and distinguished guests paid floral tributes to the statue of Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike.
Professor Sarath Wijasuriya delivered the main memorial speech at the ceremony.
Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka Freedom Party Acting Chairman Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Senior Vice Chairman Minister Mahinda Amaraweera,
Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayake, State Ministers Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Jagath Pushpakumara, Members of Parliament Duminda Dissanayake, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, former Ministers Sarath Ekanayake, Pandu Bandaranaike, Faizer Mustafa, former Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa. A group of dignitaries including gentlemen participated in the event.
An official meeting between the newly appointed High Commissioner of Pakistan to Sri Lanka Retired Maj. Gen. Faheem UI Aziz (Maj. Gen. (R) Faheem UI Aziz, HI (M) and Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayake Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Held recently (16) at the Ministry of Affairs.
During the official meeting, the existing cultural relations between the two countries were discussed and attention was also paid to the existing cultural cooperation agreements.
Accordingly, improving cultural tours and tourist facilities between the two countries, holding conferences on the exchange of archaeological knowledge, signing an agreement to explore archeology between the two countries, exhibiting the relics found in Pakistan in Sri Lanka and building a Sri Lanka-Pakistan cultural center in Pakistan etc. It was discussed here.
Mr. Wajid Hassan Hashmi, Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan High Commission was also present on this occasion.
Following customs and traditions, the ‘Nekath Seettuwa’, the table of auspicious times for this year’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year, was presented to President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat today (10).
The table of auspicious times, duly prepared by the State Astrologers’ Committee of the Department of Cultural Affairs, was then presented to the President.
Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickremanayake presented the ‘Nekath Seettuwa’ to the President in accordance with traditional customs.
Auspicious periods comprise of various timings such as the New Year’s Eve, Punya Kaalaya or inauspicious time, timings for cooking, working, eating, anointing, setting off for work and more.
Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Mr. Sagala Ratnayake, Secretary to the President Mr. Saman Ekanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Buddha Shasana Religious and Cultural Affairs Mr. Somaratne Vidanapathirana and several others attended this event.
The Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that remedies will be taken to cope with difficulties faced by elderly artistes. He made these comments while participating in the ceremony held at Temple Trees (08.04.2024) to enrol artistes who have newly applied for the retirement programme for aged artists that is implemented by the Tower Hall Theater Foundation, and presenting them gifts for the New Year.
So far, a monthly retirement allowance of Rs.7,500/- has been given to 102 selected elderly artistes. The Board of Trustees of the Tower Hall Theater Foundation, which has met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Chairman of the Tower Hall Theatre Foundation, has decided to increase the said allowance to Rs.10,000/-. Accordingly, from this month on, the Tower Hall Theater Foundation will provide a retirement allowance of Rs.10,000/- to 122 elderly artistes.
Prime Minister who speaking at the event commented that,
“It is a pleasure to meet you, who gave life to the culture and various art fields of this country, again. Your youth has expired with you. The Tower Hall Foundation pays you respect and we believe that in the future, it will be possible to improve further this process that was started with the hope of adding convenience to your life.
The board of trustees discussed the financial hardships faced by the artists and decided to increase the retirement allowance to overcome those hardships to some extent. It is in the face of the current economic crisis. More struggling artists would be able to get enrolled in this retirement programme in the future.
The artists of our country who have contributed the art in various fields have come from distant villages today. The Tower Hall Theater Foundation should be appreciated for their annual donation of goods required to celebrate the New Year for the said artists. The government respects you all again.
Minister Vidura Wickramanayake, Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Somaratne Vidanapathirana, Members of the Board of Trustees of Tower Hall Theater Foundation, Director General of Tower Hall Theater Foundation Dr. D. M. S. Dissanayake and a number of artists participated in this event.
Prime Minister’s Media
Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Mr. Vidura Wickramanayake, states that legal action will be taken if cultural elements and games that are contrary to the culture of the New Year celebrations are included in the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations.
The minister also mentioned that a series of consultations related to holding New Year celebrations have been given to the divisional secretaries through all the district secretaries.
The minister also mentioned that a series of consultations related to holding New Year celebrations have been given to the divisional secretaries through all the district secretaries.
The minister said this recently (05) while attending the press conference to present proposals on removing unethical festival elements and adding creative elements.
Accordingly, the festival elements and games included in the New Year celebrations should be submitted to the relevant regional secretariat for registration. Afterward, police approval should be obtained for the use of loudspeakers. Mrs. Nishanthi Jayasinghe, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, mentioned this requirement.
DIG Nihal Talduwa, Police Media Spokesperson, stated that increased attention will be given to obscene sports and festival elements, as well as religiously harmful activities, during the New Year celebrations. These measures will be implemented in accordance with existing laws.
Dr. Kumbalgoda Dhammaloka Thero, Director of the Ministry of Education, Tilak Hettiarachchi, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Professor Praneet Abhyasundara, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Arts Council, Yasintha Gunawardena, Director of Cultural Affairs and others attended the event.
The 'State Music Awards Ceremony' held with the main aim of encouraging and appreciating the best creations and artists for the sake of a 'good music tomorrow' was held recently (06) at the Nelum Pokuna Open Air Theatre, Colombo.
Veteran musicians Devananda Vaidyasekara and Anthony Surendra were awarded the once-in-a-lifetime music awards
Awards and certificates were presented here under various categories under the categories of children, women and men such as best awards, merit awards, special appreciation of the jury etc.
The award ceremony was jointly organized by the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Sri Lanka Arts Council and the State Music Advisory Council under the guidance of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Mr. Vidura Wickramanayake, Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry Secretary Somaratne Widapathirana and Cultural Affairs Director Mr. Yasintha Gunawardena.
Prof. Rohan Nethsinghe, Vice Chancellor of Saundarya University, Prof. Mahanama Wickramasinghe, Chairman of the State Music Council, musicians, singers, artists and others attended this event.
The opening ceremony of the International Bhagwat Gita Festival was held on March 1, 2, and 3 at the Nelum Pokuna theater premises with the participation of many distinguished guests.
Accordingly, on the first day of March (01), Rangoli and painting competitions, cultural fashion elements, Shloka singing competitions, Yagga singing, colorful cultural performances, and music concerts were also held here.
The series of religious events related to Sri Bhagwat Gita, which is considered the holy book of Hindus, and to pay homage to Sri Bhagwat Gita, the Kurukshetra Development Board of the state of Haryana in India conducts the annual Bhagwat Gita Festival, and this time it was done in Sri Lanka in a grand manner by the Ministry of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs.
Hindu priests, Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center Director Professor Ankuran Datta, Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayake, Ministry Secretary Mr. Somaratne Vidanapathirana, and additional secretaries, department directors, officials of the Ministry's affiliated institutions, and schoolchildren joined the occasion.
On the second day of the International Bhagwat Gita Mahotsava, the Bhagwat Gita Mahotsava is organized annually by the Kurukshetra Development Board of Haryana, India, to pay homage to the Sri Bhagwat Gita, which is considered the holy book of Hindus, and the series of religious events related to the Sri Bhagwat Gita. This time, it was done in Sri Lanka with grandeur.
Geeta Manish Swami Gayananad Ji, Swami Guru Sharananad Ji Maharaj, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, Kurukshetra Development Board CEO Dr. Vishali Sharma, Kurukshetra Development Board Secretary Vikas
Gupta, Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayake, Professor Asanga Thilakaratne, Ministry Secretary Somarathne Vidanapathirana, and additional secretaries, department directors, officials of the Ministry's affiliated institutes, and a group of Indo-Sri Lankan dignitaries joined the occasion.
For the International Bhagavad Gita Festival, a special Satbhavana Yatra procession was held on March 3 with the participation of many Indo-Ceylon dignitaries.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena participated in this procession, where Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayake and Gita Manish Swami Gayananad Ji presented a book containing the Bhagavad Gita to the Prime Minister.
This special procession started from the Nelum Pokuna theater premises and proceeded to the Nelum Pokuna theater through the New City Hall premises in Colombo.
The series of religious events related to Sri Bhagwat Gita, which is considered the holy book of Hindus, and to pay homage to Sri Bhagwat Gita, the Kurukshetra Development Board of the state of Haryana, India, conducts the annual Bhagwat Gita Festival, and the Ministry of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs organized this event in Sri Lanka.
Maha Sangharatna, Hindu priests, Minister of Transport, Highways, and Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, Member of Parliament Yadamini Gunawardena, and many distinguished guests joined the occasion.
A discussion on the organisation of the International Gita Festival, chaired by Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickramanayake was held recently (23) at Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center of Indian High Commission to Sri Lanka, Colombo.
In this discussion held with representatives of social organisations and Indian associations, ideas were exchanged regarding the preliminary plans regarding the upcoming Gita festival.
Hindu clergy, Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasan Religious and Cultural Affairs, Somaratne Vidanapathirana, Additional Secretary Tilak Hettiarachchi, Additional Secretary Acting Archeology Director General KADR Nishanthi Jayasinghe, Director of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Ankuran Dutta, Director of Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs Y. Anuruttanan, Director of Jaffna Cultural Center, representatives of Hindu organisations and other dignitaries joined the occasion.
Department of Cultural Affairs
J.R. Jayewardene Centre
National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka
Central Cultural Fund
Tower Hall Theatre Foundation 
Arts Council of Sri Lanka
Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksha Theatre