US-based monks to lead Peace Walk in Sri Lanka

Colombo, April 3 (Daily Mirror) - A discussion on providing state patronage for the upcoming “Walk for Peace Programme in Sri Lanka” was held at the Presidential Secretariat, with the participation of a group of Venerable monks who recently completed a 110-day peace walk across 10 states in the United States, from Texas to Washington.

The meeting was chaired by Venerable Dr. Melpitiye Wimalakitthi Thero and attended by Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

According to plans, twelve monks led by the founder of the American peace walk, Venerable Pannakara Thero, are scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on April 21. The local peace walk will be conducted over seven days, from April 22 to April 28, with the participation of the Maha Sangha and devotees.

The programme will commence on April 21 with religious observances and blessings at the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura. A sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi, obtained with the blessings of the Maha Sangha, will be ceremonially carried throughout the walk.

Following special observances at the Ruwanweli Maha Seya, the message of peace will be shared with the public in the Anuradhapura District.

The walk will recommence on the morning of April 22 from Dambulla after offering Sanghagatha Dakshina. The procession is scheduled to pass through several areas including Naula, Matale, Kandy, Kadugannawa, Kegalle, Tholangamuwa, Kajugama, Yakkala, Mahara and Kelaniya, before concluding at Independence Square on April 28.

At the conclusion of the programme, the sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi carried during the walk will be officially handed over by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to the visiting Maha Sangha.

The discussion also focused on organisational arrangements such as providing alms and refreshments for the monks, sanitation facilities and security, with support from the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat.