For the first time, Poson was celebrated at Parliament Hill on June 16, 2024. The event was hosted by Hon. Chandra Arya, Member of Parliament for Nepean, Ontario. The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Ottawa initiated and organized this significant event in collaboration with the Sri Lankan temples, community, recognizing the cultural importance of Poson to Sri Lanka.

Several esteemed Buddhist monasteries and cultural centers participated in the celebration, including Hilda Jayawardenaramaya Buddhist Monastery, Ottawa Theravada Buddhist Vihara and Cultural Centre, Ottawa Buddhist Viharaya, and Sri Sambuddhagaya Viharaya in Montreal.

Hon. Chandra Arya addressed the gathering, emphasizing the necessity of preserving the cultural heritage of Sri Lankan Buddhists. Ven. Kekunadure Hemalankara Thero spoke on the significance of Poson to Sri Lankan Buddhists, while Ambassador Bharat Raj Paudyal from the Embassy of Nepal highlighted the importance of Buddhism. Indian Deputy High Commissioner Chinmoy Naik traced the history and spread of Buddhism from India to other countries and underscored the strengthening of bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka through religious tourism. Anzul Jhan, Acting High Commissioner for Sri Lanka, expressed gratitude to Hon. Arya for providing the Sri Lankan community with the opportunity to celebrate this important event at Parliament Hill. She commended the leadership of the Buddhist temples in Ottawa and Montreal for their role in organizing the community and recalled the traditional Poson celebrations in Sri Lanka, appreciating the dedication and commitment of the community in recreating the Poson spirit through decorations at Parliament Hill.

The event commenced with guided meditation led by Ven. Nugagalayaye Jinanada Thero, followed by chanting of Pirith. The program included Bakthi Gee, a documentary on Poson, several devotional dance performances, and contributions from community members. The children displayed their artwork on the importance of Poson and there was also a Poson greeting card drawing booth.  A special "Saruwath Dansala” was also organized as part of the celebrations.

Sri Lanka High Commission
Ottawa
20th June 2024

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