Ban on pandals on Vesak, Poson Poya days to remain: Minister

21 April 2018 01:35 pm - 19 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Buddhasasana Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said yesterday the ban of pandals on Vesak and Poson Poya Days would not be changed and stressed the need to focus on the spiritual aspect of religion rather than on mundane activities.

He told Daily Mirror that this prohibition on pandals would only apply to April 29, the Vesak Poya Day and May 29 the Poson Poya Day and that pandals could be put up on the other days.

The minister had imposed this restriction last month but the Government Information Department said the government had not taken a policy decision to ban dansals and pandals on Vesak and on Poson Poya Days.

He said the ministry had requested the people to refrain from putting up pandals only on Vesak and Poson Poya Days following a request made to him by the Mahanayake Theras.

“This decision was made to safeguard Buddhist principles and encourage Buddhists to engage in spiritual activities during Vesak and Poson,” the minister said.

He said all concerned including the Police had been informed to impose this restriction on pandals on the specified days while dansals can be held on these days.

“The ministry will soon make a proposal to the Cabinet to prohibit pandals on Vesak and Poson Poya Days applicable to every year. A national policy will be implemented in this regard,” he said. (Kalathma Jayawardhane)

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Comments - 19

JuniorCitizen Saturday, 21 April 2018 02:27 PM

Fully support this move. Money spent on pandals, decorations and other wasteful items should be put to better use like feeding the poor, providing educational items to under privileged children or at least feeding and neutering stray dogs. This should also be applied to all religions events.

Silva Saturday, 21 April 2018 08:15 PM

No ban to erect the worlds tallest Christmas Tree. - Why is this govt. so hell bent on being anti BUDDHIST...?

George Saturday, 21 April 2018 02:35 PM

And break the roads again

Lumbini Saturday, 21 April 2018 02:43 PM

These guys have no commonsense.

Rohan Saturday, 21 April 2018 03:00 PM

What a stupid decision? These good for nothing ministers can only bring no-good decisions to create disputes for people, police etc. All unnecessary ministries creates nonsense in this country.

Rdf Saturday, 21 April 2018 03:36 PM

So is this the most burning issue in SL? Ministers withou a vision and without capacity. .......

Mm Saturday, 21 April 2018 03:42 PM

Always trying to change things. Jobless.

m gamage Saturday, 21 April 2018 05:00 PM

From Theravada Buddhism to Taliban Buddhism.

Senewi Saturday, 21 April 2018 05:06 PM

Ban pandals on Vesak .Sponsor the tallest christmas tree on christmas.

Gayan Saturday, 21 April 2018 05:07 PM

How much are you going to put up with?

Amaris Saturday, 21 April 2018 05:28 PM

Is this something new? .... When we were kids the pandals were illuminated only at 12:00 mid night on wesak day . The free cinemas also commenced after mid night. So what is this ban this man is talking about?

Ruwan Saturday, 21 April 2018 05:31 PM

Very good move. Dan sal should be banned too as they clog the roads.

Sambo Saturday, 21 April 2018 06:11 PM

Why are you forcing people to go to temple. This should be done to one's conscious.This is the main problem in Sri Lanka.

Concerned Saturday, 21 April 2018 08:18 PM

I am in my mid fifties, when I was small, I traveled with my parents from Jaffna to Hatton on a train during vesak and really enjoy the Vesak pandals throughout my journey and the creativity goes with it. It brings all communities together to the festive mood. Please don't stop it!

A. K. Adwani Sunday, 22 April 2018 07:05 AM

He is right no need to make too much stupid comments, just listen before you comments, that Pandals are the root cause of wasting time so the attention should be drawn towards sprituality, this Buddhist country has lot of wine stores than Pandals

Lord Wolfstein Sunday, 22 April 2018 09:36 AM

The constitution guarantees the right to freedom of religion. Neither the clergy nor politics can dictate to people how to practice their religion.

S.P.RAMKUMAR Sunday, 22 April 2018 05:42 PM

I as a Hindu no moral right to argue with this Government decision, But this vesak Decoration are always insist our minds like remembering light of enlightenment attained, We Hindus celebrated Lord Ganesha birthday as Sangada Sadurthi, Lord Krishna birthday as Krishna Jayanthi, And Lord Rama Birth day as Rama Jayanthi, all are calibrating as spiritual and cultural manner. We Hindus and Buddhist are always believing and worshiping Lord's statues / Images. In our minds we always believe that this pandals on Our Lords' birthdays give us more hopes and confidence about our spiritual activities.

Ash Sunday, 22 April 2018 08:18 PM

Tar road next to Dehiwala municipality is already dug up using municipal labour who have stopped collecting garbage and their respective duties

Amarendra Sri Chandragupta Sunday, 22 April 2018 09:26 PM

Such decisions should only be taken if necessary by the Maha Nayaks and so far the greater Buddhist public do not see any fruitfulness in this blind decision. Decision on the Buddha Sasana, Buddhist festivals or traditions should not be taken by government ministers and should only be taken by the supreme leaders of the Maha Sanga. This is a clear result of the curseful political system of this country.

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Ban on pandals on Vesak, Poson Poya days to remain: Minister

Comments - 19

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