ANCL Poson Aloka pooja for 53rd year [May 23 2015]

The Poson Aloka Pooja organised by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited for the 53rd year and co-sponsored by the Ceylon Electricity Board will be held from May 30 to June 3 at Mihintale, Anuradhapura.

Abans Ltd, Bank of Ceylon and Dialog will also join hands to make the event a success.

The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), Lak Handa and the Independent Television Network (ITN) will provide live coverage to the event.

The Aloka Pooja programme has the blessings of the Mihintale Raja Maha Viharadhipathi Ven. Walawa Hengunawewe Dhammarathana Thera who in collaboration with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe geared the State machinery to make the shrine area clean and ready for the annual religious programme.

Dialog and the Sri Lanka Army Engineers Regiment personnel were involved in the whitewashing of the Sela Chetiya.

All facilities will be provided for devotees participating in religious ceremonies and those responsible for organizing the programme seek public support make this endeavour a success.

Devotees are requested to refrain from littering the Mihintale Sacred Area with plastic bottles and polythene. Mihintale. Abans Ltd.,will provide mobile toilets for those who come to the shrine area.

The organisers caution devotees visiting Mihintale to take extra precaution when bathing in the wewas (tanks). Navy divers and police life savers will be at hand in case of an emergency.

The Mihindu Perahera which will be held on the third day (June 1) of the Aloka Pooja would be broad cast live over ITN.

The cleaning of the wewas, path ways and roads leading to the Sacred Area are taking place with the support of volunteers working together with the Sri Lanka Navy, Civil Security Force personnel and Road Development Authority officials.