Many programmes to celebrate 2600th Sambuddhathva Jayanthi

Upgrading of Dhamma schools and archaeological exhibitions on the agenda:

The government has taken steps to allocate a sum of Rs 130,000,000 to 2600 underdeveloped Dhamma schools in the country this month to mark the 2600 Sambuddhathva Jayanthi. According to the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs, Chandra Prema Gamage, these schools have been already identified by the Department of Buddhist Affairs with the assistance of the Divisional Secretariats in 20 districts including Ampara, Vavuniya and Trincomalee.

The department has already obtained the approval of the Sasanarakshaka Balamandala Secretary Theras, and accordingly the identified dhamma schools will be provided funds to improve facilities such as the provision of desks and chairs for these schools.The department hopes to utilise the services of the people of the area to make the Dhamma school upgrading programme a success. Meanwhile, the National Heritage Ministry plans to commemorate the 2600th Sambuddhathva Jayanthi by holding an archaeological exhibition under the guidance of National Heritage Minister, Dr. Jagath Balasuriya.

The exhibition which will highlight the expansion of Buddhism in India and Sri Lanka and the contribution made by Sri Lanka to spread Buddhism throughout the world, is scheduled to be held at the BMICH from May 21 to 28.

The Ministry also plans to display the sacred relics of the Buddha which have been brought down from Ghandhara, at this exhibition.

Plans are also being made to launch mobile archaeological exhibitions at school level throughout the country with the aim of creating an awareness of the rich Buddhist heritage of the country among schoolchildren.

The renovation of the Mahamevna Park at Anuradhapura, Neelagiri Seya and Digawapi Seya are also to be carried out under this programme.

International Workers' Day

Today is a significant day especially for the labour force in many parts of the world,Do you know why? It is because May Day which is synonymous with International Workers' Day, or Labour Day,falls on May 1.

It's a celebration of spring, a day of political protests, a neopagan festival, a saint's feast day, and a day for organized labour all rolled into one and so in many countries, it is a national holiday.

In our country many rallies and demonstrations are held by trade unions and political parties with musical shows and tamashas included for added attraction.Do you know why this day which is also known as labour day is significant to the working class? Because it commemorates the fight for a eight hour working day.

This originates with the United States labour movement in the late 19th Century. On May 1, 1886, unions across the country went on strike, demanding that the standard workday be shortened to eight hours.

The organisers of these strikes included socialists, anarchists, and others in organised labour movements. Rioting took place in Chicago's Haymarket Square on May 4 and a bomb thrown by an anarchist led to the deaths of a dozen people (including several police officers) and the injury of over 100 more.

The protests were not immediately successful, but they proved effective down the line, as eight-hour work days eventually did become the standard working hours for a day.

One of the Eisenhower essay award winners with the U. S. Ambassador Patricia Butenis and members of the Eisenhower Fellowship Association of Sri Lanka , at the Jefferson House, U.S. Ambassador’s residence in Colombo .	Eisenhower essay award winners 2011 with the U. S. Ambassador Patricia Butenis and Members of the Eisenhower Fellowship Association of Sri Lanka: From Left to Right : Samantha Noreyana Fernando, Linda Warnakulasuriya, W. Naveen Devinda, M. R. Rasmina, Nishara Sangapalaarachchi, Raveena Weerabahu, Hashini Rathnayake, and Shahithiya Santoshkumar.