Northern Naval Command celebrates United Nations Vesak day on grand scale
 

To coincide with the United Nations Day of Vesak, the Northern Naval Command organized a series of religious events under the leadership and guidance of the Commander Northern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Jayantha De Silva on 10th& 11thMay 2017, to mark this international religious event.

The Vesak day proceedings commenced on the 10th morning, with the visit of Commander Northern Naval Area to the ‘Nagadeepa Purana Rajamaha Viharaya’ and the Chief Incumbent of the temple Most Venerable Navadagala Padumakitti Tissa Thero had arranged a series of events at the venue. The Commander Northern Naval Area also declared open a ‘Dansala’ at the same venue.

Meanwhile, the Northern Naval Command Headquarters had organized a beautiful ‘Vesak Kalapaya’ in the vicinity of the Dambakolapatuna Temple. It consisted of ‘Ata Sil’ programme, allusive Dharma Deshanaya, Digital ‘Thorana’, innovative and colorful Vesak lantern competition, ‘Dansala’and ‘Bhodhipooja’ which was conducted by the Venerable Diyamailagahawewa Ariyakiththi Thero of the Nagadeepa Temple.

The most important aspect of the event was that the majority of the participants, who were present to witness these religious activities, were non Buddhists. More than 3,000 persons including children witnessed, participated in the events and received blessings. The main objective of conducting these events was to enhance religious harmony & social détente among public in the Northern Peninsula. Further, the naval personnel of SLNS Agbo conducted a ‘Shramadana’ campaign at the Mathagal Shiva Kovil premises to clean its surrounding.

In addition, SLNS Kanchadewa organized a vibrant ‘Vesak Kalapaya’ & ‘Dansala’ on the Velani Island with the assistance of the other naval bases located on the Islands in the Jaffna Peninsula. Approximately 1,500 persons attended these events. Similarly, SLNS Wasaba also conducted a ‘Dansala’ on the Delft Island on 11th May 2017.