President's Vesak message
It is with immense fervor and devotion that we celebrate, with full
State patronage, the thrice blessed festival of Vesak this year, which
also marks the 26th Sammasambuddhatva Jayanthi.
Through 2600 years the teachings of the Buddha have shown the correct
path of livelihood to mankind. The comfort and consolation these
provided to humans remain immeasurable. Today, our motherland is
honoured throughout the world for preserving the teachings of the Buddha
in their pristine purity through two millennia and more.
In achieving a lasting and sustainable peace in our land and help us
move to our goals of development, we have sought to follow the teachings
of the Sakyamuni Sammasambuddha that showed the path to free us from the
four evil dispositions of desire, hatred, fear and ignorance.
Accordingly, the policies of our government give the foremost place
to the Buddha Dhamma.
Akkodhena jine kodham - asaadhum saadhunaa jine
Jine kadariyam daanena - saccena alikavaadinam
"Let an angry man be conquered by love; an evil man by goodness. Let
a miser be won over by liberality; and a liar by truthfulness", states
the Dhammapada in the "Koda Vagga". This exhortation of the Buddha
should always nurture us in facing up to all challenges.
The teachings of the Buddha help us to bring to the world the means
of resolving all disputes that arise from unbridled desire. Thus it
behoves upon us to give to the world the path to peace and consolation
from these great teachings of the Sammasambuddhatva or Great
Enlightenment of the Buddha, 2600 years ago.
On this Vesak festival it should be our determination to take refuge
in the teachings of the Buddha, and through the proper observation of
the teachings of Buddhism make this 2600 Sammasambuddhatva Jayanthi
meaningful to all people.
May the Noble Triple Gem bless you!
Mahinda Rajapaksa
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