President Mahinda Rajapaksa observed Ata Sil on Vesak Full Moon Poya day at Temple Trees yesterday. Ministers Bandula Gunawardena, Pavithra Wanniarachchi and Yoshita Rajapaksa also observed Sil. Ven Kotugoda Dhammawasa Thera administered the Ashtha Seela on the President and others. Picture by Sudath Silva

The 2600th Sambuddhatva Jayanthi, Amadhahara Vesak Zone, organized by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL) for the 21 st consecutive year in association with Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) was declared open yesterday. Here Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Culture and Arts Minister T B Ekanayake, Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) CEO Greg Young, ANCL Chairman Bandula Padmakumara, Director Editorial Seelarathna Senarath and Director Operations Upul Dissanayake at the opening. Picture by Nissanaka Wijeratne Story on page 03

Colombo, suburbs throbbing with Buddhist activities:

Sambuddhathva Jayanthi conducted on grand scale

Non-Buddhists too participate in big way:

A series of programmes to commemorate Vesak that was ushered in association with the 2600th Sri Sambuddhathva Jayanthi, began on a grand scale throughout the country yesterday. Pandals depicting episodes from the 550 rebirth stories of the Buddha have been erected throughout the country. More than 18 such pandals are within the Colombo city.

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President observes Ata Sil

Buddhist devotees in Sri Lanka and all over the world came together under the sacred Buddhist flag to commemorate the 2600th Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi celebrations participating in religious observances and programmes yesterday.

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'Security Forces can make a difference'

'Sri Lanka's three security forces and the Police are the only team in the world who can make a different in the world's history. They showed this by defeating terrorism in Sri Lanka,said Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake addressing the inauguration ceremony of the instructors' training programme which was held at the Panagoda Army Headquarters.

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