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Monks urge ban on ‘commercial programmes’ on Poson Day

Published

11 months ago

2025/06/9

A display featuring a seated Buddha during the Poson festival, an annual Buddhist festival marking the introduction of the religion to Sri Lanka. (UCAN Photo)

Street shows meant for profit-making and entertainment overshadow the sacred meaning of the festival, they say

Buddhist monks have urged the government to ban commercial entertainment programmes, which violate Buddhist principles, during an annual festival commemorating the arrival of Buddhism on the island nation in the Indian Ocean centuries ago, according ot a report published by UCAN.

The monks said street dancing, folk performances, musical shows, comic acts, devil dances and haunted house exhibitions contradict Buddhist values. They lack religious significance and overshadow the sacred meaning of Poson Day.

The festival is celebrated on the full moon day of Poson — the seventh month in the Sinhalese calendar — which falls on June 10 this year. It marks the historic event in the 3rd century BC when Buddhist missionary monk Mahinda met King Devanampiyatissa at Mihintale, near Anuradhapura, and delivered his first sermon.

“We urge [the government] that this sacred day be recognised as one of the most important for Sri Lankan Buddhists,” said Ven. Thumbulle Seelakkanda Thera, Chairman of the All Ceylon Shasanarakshaka Bala Mandalaya, who addressed a press conference, with fellow monks, in Colombo, on June 4.

The monks sought a ban on street entertainment programmes and also appealed to people against organising them during Poson Week, celebrated in towns and villages across the country.

“Such activities should not take place. It is deeply regrettable if they do,” the chief monk added.

The monks said the event is meant for spiritual reflection, compassion, and moral discipline.

Traditionally, the Buddhist faithful observe sil (stressing moral conduct or virtue), visit temples, meditate, listen to sermons, offer alms, organise free food and flower stalls, light lanterns, and join pilgrimages, honouring the arrival of Buddhism with devotion and reflection. Many lay groups are also worried that sacred observances are being overshadowed by loud, secular performances and events.

Nileesha Chulani, a member of a Buddhist lay group and Sunday school teacher, said in the initial years, public displays depicting hell were meant to illustrate the consequences of sin, often incorporating artistic elements and offering some form of religious instruction.

“Today, these displays have turned commercial, driven by profits rather than spiritual purpose,” the 32-year-old Chulani told UCA News.

R.M.P. Rathnayake, the Commissioner for Buddhist affairs, said the events are granted permission as per the rules provided in government circulars. The organisers need approval from the police for the use of loudspeakers, etc., and pay entertainment tax.

“The use of Buddhist flags, particularly at free food stalls, has now been prohibited,” he said.

More than 70 percent of Sri Lanka’s 22 million people are followers of Buddhism.

For the past two years, the festivities were funded by the people as Buddhist monks turned down the Sri Lankan government’s offer for financial support, as the nation was passing through a severe foreign exchange crisis.

The monks walked the streets to collect funds for illuminating and providing facilities for the two million visitors at the Mihintale Rajamaha Viharaya, a historic landmark in the Buddhist-majority nation.

This year, the National Poson Festival will be state-sponsored, which the monks said is a relief for them.The festival is second only in importance to Vesak, which commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Buddha, who founded the contemplative religion of Buddhism in India.

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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Kurunegala and Ratnapura

Published

3 mins ago

2026/04/23

Priyan

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued Landslide Early Warnings to the Districts of Kurunegala and Ratnapura effective from 16:00 hrs on 23.04.2026 To 16:00 hrs on 24.04.2026

Accordingly,

Level 1 landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Rideegama in the Kurunegala district and Kuruwita, Kalawana, Ratnapura, Nivithigala, Pelmadulla and Eheliyagoda in the Ratnapura district.

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Advisory for Severe Lightning issued for the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central, Southern, Uva provinces, and Ampara and Batticaloa districts

Published

2 hours ago

2026/04/23

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology
Issued at 12.00 noon 23 April 2026 valid for the period until 11.30 p.m. 23 April 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central, Southern, Uva provinces, and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 1.00 p.m.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
• Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.

News

Compensation payments and reconstruction activities related to the Ditwah relief measures must be expedited with special attention at the district level – PM

Published

12 hours ago

2026/04/23

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasized that compensation payments and reconstruction activities related to the Ditwah relief measures must be expedited with special attention at the district level. She further stated that all necessary allocations have already been made to Provincial Councils and instructed that the progress of disaster damage assessments and reconstruction efforts be closely monitored at the provincial level.

The Prime Minister made these remarks at a discussion held on Tuesday (21) at Temple Trees under her patronage, aimed at informing Chairpersons of District Coordination Committees and public representatives from disaster-affected districts, in order to accelerate the implementation of the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” programme. The discussion focused on expediting disaster relief and compensation payments, as well as the swift restoration of infrastructure damaged by the disaster.

The Prime Minister emphasized that Rs. 500 billion has been allocated for damages caused by the Ditwah cyclone, and that all relevant development activities must be completed before the end of 2026. The Prime Minister also instructed officials to pay special attention to resolving issues at the local level that are causing delays in compensation payments.

Senior Additional Secretary to the President, G.M.R.D. Aponsu, stated that the estimated cost for reconstruction following the Ditwah cyclone is approximately USD 3.4 billion. Accordingly, funds have been allocated for compensation across several sectors including housing and social infrastructure, agriculture and livestock, fisheries, industry and livelihoods, and irrigation. He further noted that 99% of the Rs. 25,000 allowance has already been disbursed, while 95% of the Rs. 50,000 resettlement allowance has been paid. Compensation for fully and partially damaged houses is still ongoing, and 99% of temporary relief centres have been closed.

Additionally, attention was drawn to several other measures, including providing Rs. 25,000 to affected schoolchildren, paying Rs. 1 million as compensation for each deceased individual, compensation for children who lost one or both parents, support for persons with disabilities affected by the disaster, compensation for agricultural losses, and expediting resettlement of displaced families. Measures such as allocating land for new housing construction and accelerating the issuance of reports from the National Building Research Organization were also discussed.

Focus was also placed on the reconstruction of affected schools, hospitals, and daycare centres, improving the accuracy and speed of data collection at the local level, and accelerating infrastructure development.

The event was attended by Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Samantha Vidyarathna, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Dr. Chandana Abayarathna, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne, Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperatives R.M. Jayawardena, Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Madhura Senevirathna, Members of Parliament, Chairpersons of District Coordination Committees, Chief of Staff to the President and Commissioner General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Additional Secretary to the President Jayantha Bandara; and officials of the Prime Minister’s Office.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]