President Mahinda Rajapaksa today said nobody had imposed restrictions on Vesak pandals and dansalas and he would also join in viewing the pandals and dansalas. “As Buddhists all our religious activities are performed without causing inconveniences to the followers of other religions,” he said.

These views were expressed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a ceremony to unveil the pinnacle of the newly built Dagoba in the Bomaluwa Ancient Temple in Matale.

“A temple can form a spiritually developed village which will help the country to develop spiritually. We are also concerned about developing the temples in rural areas as well as temples in urban areas without hindering other religions. As a state we honour all the religions. We were able defeat terrorism with the blessings of all the religions in the country,” he said.

“If the physical development of the country is to succeed, the moral advancement of the younger generation is essential. Hence the parents and the teachers have the great responsibility of making them beneficial to society,” he said.

The Chief Incumbent of the Bomaluwa temple and the Chief Sanganayaka  of the Matale District  Siyam Nikaya  Ven. Kosgolle  Seelarathana  Thera delivered the Anusasana speech.

The chief Sanganayaka of the Matale District Malwatta  Chapter  Ven, Mahalakotuwe  Wimaladamma Thera and Matale –North,  Chief Sanganayaka  Ven. Puliyadde  Indarathana Thera also spoke.

Ven Murutthettuwe Ananda Thera, the Chief Minister Central Province  Sarath Ekanayaka, Deputy Transport Minister  Rohana Dissanayaka, Deputy Higher Education Minister  Nandimithra Ekanayake, Parliamentarians  Lakshman Vasantha  Perera, Vasantha  Aluvihare (UNP) and Mayor Hilmy also participated. (M.W. Somarathna, Hilton J. Berenger and Mahesh Keerthiratna)