This year, India at the invitation of the Sri Lankan Government participated at the Buddha Rashmi Vesak celebrations and displayed a Vesak lantern modelled on the Mahabodhi Temple in Gaya, Bihar, India.
The lantern being exhibited is based on the architecture of the Mahabodhi Temple.
The event is being jointly organised by the Presidential Secretariat and the Gangaramaya Temple from 15 to 19th May 2014 in Colombo.
The 16th World Conference on Youth 2014 commenced on 06 May at the Magam Ruhunupura International Convention Center in Hambantota on a grand scale under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
President of the United Nations General Assembly Dr. John William Ashe and special envoy on Youth Affairs of the Unite Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, Ahamad Al Hendavi were among the special guests. Ministers of Youth Affairs from 27 countries, special diplomats and representatives from youth organizations in 118 countries had participated in the opening ceremony of the conference.
Invoking blessings on the country, President, Government and all, a record four-digit number of Buddhist monks who assembled at the BMICH premises on yesterday evening chanted the 'Jaya Pirith' and appealed celestial powers to help the country's forward march, dispelling all challenges and setbacks posed to the Nation.More than 4000 Buddhist monks took part in the chanting that went on till this morning.
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