Buddha statues dispatched to Lankan Missions

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) on Thursday despatched large sized Buddha Statues to all the Sri Lankan missions abroad to coincide with the 2600th Sambuddhatva Jayanthiya which commences from tomorrow, May 16.

The objective is to encourage over one million Buddhist migrant workers presently employed in the middle eastern and other countries to participate at religious ceremonies during the Vesak season.

The SLBFE Chairman Kingsley Ranawaka told the Sunday Observer that the program was launched on a directive from President Mahinda Rajapaksa and ten statues have been sent to the Middle East already where over 800,000 Sri Lankan workers are employed.

Sri Lankan embassies and High Commissions have decided to conduct Sil campaigns and other religious activities during the forthcoming Vesak Week.