Dr. D.M. Jayaratne, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE
From HE. Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
I am pleased to send this message of felicitation to the United Nations Day of Vesak 2014 being celebrated in Vietnam, and the related International Buddhist Conference.
The United Nations celebrates this thrice sacred day of Vesak that commemorate the birth, enlightenment and passing away of Siddhartha Gauthama - the Buddha, since a special resolution was passed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999.
Sri Lanka, with a tradition of Buddhism dating back more than 2 millennia, having contributed much to Buddhist studies from ancient days to modern times, fully recognizes the importance of this UN initiative on celebrating the Vesak festival.
The current year’s celebrations and conference at the Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam, hosted by the National Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, has a most timely and relevant theme in “Buddhist contribution to Achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals”.
This has great significance in bringing out Buddhist thinking and response to current issues affecting the world such as Sustainable Development, Global Warming and Environment Protection; the Buddhist contributions to Healthy Living, Peace - building and Post-conflict recovery, and Buddhist Education in university level curricula.
The large number of participants at this conference, including Supreme Patriarchs, learned members of the Maha Sangha and Buddhist scholars will no doubt make important contributions on the relevance of Buddhist thinking on the many issues and the crises that affect the world today, and the path to progress.
I wish this International Buddhist Conference that marks the UN day of Vesak every success with the guidance of Buddhist teaching and the Blessings of the Noble Triple Gem.
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
