Vesak Celebration in Moscow- 2017

On May 10, 2017 Embassy of Sri Lanka in the Russian Federation organized Vesak Lantern competition for the second consecutive year to celebrate Vesak day. The Government of Sri Lanka has given its due recognition to the international day of Vesak by celebrating in Colombo and Kandy. This was an initiative by H E the president of Sri Lanka emphasizing the recognition that the United Nations extended by adopting of resolution by observing the Vesak day in the new millennium on 18th May 2000 at its headquarters in New York City.

The event is celebrated in Sri Lanka during 12th – 14th May 2017 in Colombo and Kandy with the presence of high level dignitaries from all over the world, including Prime Minister of India and the President of Nepal. The theme of the event is “Buddhist teaching for social justice and sustainable world peace” which is timely an relevant for most of the nation’s countries of the world, and will be a good platform to discuss and exchange ideas aiming the leaders with the spiritual understanding of implementation of world peace. In parallel to this, The Embassy of Sri Lanka in the Russian Federation organized the “Vesak lantern competition” for the second time under the able guidance and an initiative of H. E. the Ambassador Dr. Saman Weerasinghe. The contributors to the competition are from the Sri Lankan student community of Moscow. 7 universities participated at the event with designed lanterns. The lanterns were exhibited in the front of the embassy premises from 9 pm onwards on the Vesak day, 10th May 2017. H. E. the Ambassador opened the event by switching the lights for the lanterns and a committee appointed by the Ambassador evaluated the lanterns represented by each university on stipulated criteria and awarded the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for the best 3 lanterns. The cash awards for the same will be presented during the forthcoming visit of mahanayake theros to the Russian Federation for Dharma serman to be held at the Embassy for the community in Moscow, in October. The Lantern presented by the People’s Friendship University was selected as the best lantern while Moscow Power Engineering Institute (MPEI) and Moscow State Automobile and Road Technical University (MADI) won the second and third places respectively. The student and business communities in Moscow attended the event and were offered a Sri Lankan traditional dinner by H. E. the Ambassador.