President’s Poson Message

The greatest homage we could pay to Arahat Mahinda who laid the foundation for spiritual and intellectual development of our people is to create a peaceful environment for them to live without violence, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a message on the occasion of the Poson festival.

The message:

“The arrival of Arahat Mahinda in Mihintale, Anuradhapura from India in 236 B.E. marked the advent of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It is a historic occasion, which opened vistas of a new culture.

“The spiritual development that accompanied the conversion of King Devanampiyatissa to Buddhism is ingrained in the hearts and minds of the Buddhist people.

“Our ancestors who gave pride of place to the culture of “the tank, the stupa and the temple” not only laboured to make our land self-sufficient but also defended it at the cost of their lives.

“It is the cultural heritage we derived from the advent of Arahat Mahinda that made it possible to build great tanks, built enormous stupas and achieve prosperity. It is a pleasure to note that a grateful public is commemorating this historic event.

“The greatest homage we could pay to Arahat Mahinda who laid the foundation for spiritual and intellectual development of our people is to create a peaceful environment for them to live without violence.

“King Devanampiyatissa who gave up deer hunting for pleasure after listening to Arahat Mahinda showed us the value of life.

“Similarly, Emperor Asoka was the first among kings to realize that peace is the sole relief, elixir and solace to all living beings. That is why he chose the conquering of the dhamma over conquering lands.

“All fear punishment and similarly death. Nobody should be harmed taking one’s self as an example”.

“On this Poson eve I appeal to all to unite irrespective of racial, religious, caste and party differences to create in this land well defended by our ancestors, an environment where all could live peacefully without fear.

“I wish all Sri Lankans a happy Poson”.

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