Sinhalese Buddhists celebrate Vesak grandly in the North

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 May 2010, 18:46 GMT]
Sinhalese Buddhists from South and the government armed forces in the North celebrated Thursday and Friday the annual Buddhist Vesak festival in Jaffna, Ki’linochchi and Vanni in a grand scale in comparison with last year, sources in Jaffna said. Sri Lanka government provided full support for the celebrations while security measures were strengthened in Jaffna with 700 additional policemen deployed along with Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers, the sources added. Vehicles were not allowed near Duraippah Stadium where grand Vesak lanterns had been hoisted.



Sinhalese Buddhists and others from South poured into Jaffna in their thousands in hundreds of vehicles through A9 road to observe religious rites in the Buddhist places of worship in Jaffna peninsula.

In Vanni, including Mullaiththevu district where people are yet to be resettled, SLA divisions celebrated Vesak with their respective commanders presiding over the events.



Grand celebrations were observed in Ki’linochchi town and adjoining places.

Jaffna town and other important places in the town were illuminated with Vesak pandals and lanterns with thousands of Sinhalese taking part in the ceremonies.

Local residents in Jaffna peninsula, however, did not take an active interest in the celebration but watched it passively, the sources said