Photo Story
Vesak celebrated at Lankaji Temple in Japan (Pics)
Japan’s first Theravada Buddhist temple – the Lankaji Vihara held their 41st Vesak Festival on May 25 with a large group of Buddhist devotees from both Sri Lanka and Japan.
The festival was held in accordance with the Theravada tradition under the patronage of Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thero who is the President of Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka, Chief Sangha Nayaka of Japan, Chief Priest-Lankaji Temple, Japan and the Chief Monk of the -Sanchi Chethiyagiri Viharaya.
Newly appointed Sri Lankan Ambassador to Japan – Prof. Pivithuru Janak Kumarasinghe, and Member of Parliament – Shanakiyan Rasamanickam were also in attendance.
The Vesak meritorious festival organized by Ven. Koswatte Palitha Thero of Savara Lankaji Vihara and guided by Ven. Upatissa Na Thero. Ven. Galabada Assaji Thero of Lankaji Vihara performed the Sambuddha Pooja in the morning and midday as well as the Atavisi Gilanpasa Buddha Pooja in the evening.
The alms ceremony was conducted by the incumbent of Lankaji Vihara – Ven. Yatawara Pannarama Thero, while the Viharastha Dayaka Sabha organized morning and midday alms givings for the incumbent and visiting Maha Sangha at the temple.
Additionally, food and tea receptions organized by Sri Lankan families and institutions in Japan were held throughout the day at the temple.
Speaking at the event, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Japan – Prof. Pivithuru Janak Kumarasinghe praised the Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thero for guiding numerous young Sri Lankans in Japan for nearly forty years and expressed hope that his guidance would strengthen Japan-Sri Lanka relations, enhancing economic and cultural ties between the two countries.
Photo Story
Jim Brown Nagar model village handed over to beneficiaries (Pics)
On 26 May 2025, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka – Santosh Jha and Deputy Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing – T. B. Sarath, jointly inaugurated and handed over Jim Brown Nagar Model Village in Mannar to the 24 beneficiary families.
The event was also attended by MP Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran – Mr. Ranjith Ariyarathne Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing; District Secretary, Mannar; Chairman and senior officials from National Housing Development Authority, and senior officials from the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing of Sri Lanka; Northern Provincial Council and Mannar District Administration.
The Model Village Housing Project is being implemented in all 25 districts of the island jointly with the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing of Sri Lanka with grant support from the Government of India. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India and the Government of Sri Lanka was signed for the project in October 2017. The project encompasses housing facilities for 600 low-income families of Sri Lanka, with a model village each consisting of 24 houses per district for families selected by the District Housing Committees.
Model villages under the project have earlier been inaugurated and handed over in 13 districts: Batticaloa, Vavuniya, Jaffna, Kandy, Gampaha, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Matale, Puttalam, Colombo, Trincomalee, Monaragala and Kilinochchi. The project progress is over 97% and the remaining model villages too are expected to be inaugurated and handed over to the beneficiaries soon.
Entertainment
‘Queen of Sri Lankan Cinema’ bids adieu (Pics)
The funeral of Malini Fonseka, revered as the ‘Queen of Sri Lankan Cinema’, was held yesterday (May 26) under state patronage at the Independence Square, Colombo 7.
Thousands of fans yesterday paid last respects to her both at her residence in Madiwela and at Tharangani Hall, where her remains lay in state, before being taken to Independence Square.
The iconic actress passed away on May 24 at the age of 78, while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo.
(Pics : Nirosha Jayawardena)
News
Protest over new Barista outlet near Nallur Kovil (Pics)
The Jaffna Municipal Council has removed the name board of the newly established Barista outlet located on Point Pedro Road near the Nallur Kovil in Jaffna, informing the company to obtain a proper permit, reports say.
The outlet in question is also located close to the Jaffna MC and had been opened only on May 09 this year. It is the chain’s second outlet in Jaffna with the older one located on the Hospital Road in Jaffna.
The nameboard removal had taken place on May 22 following intense opposition from a group of local residents, reports say.
On May 20, Thavathiru Velan Swami of the Nallur Shiva Guru Ashram in Jaffna, along with vegetarian Shiva devotees, launched a protest demonstration, calling for the immediate removal of the Barista near the Nallur Kovil. Citing that the outlet was a non-vegetarian one, they had appealed to the Jaffna MC to take action and remove the outlet due to its close proximity to the sacred site.
According to provincial reporters, the outlet is located about 400m from the Nallur Kovil, on land considered sacred Kovil property.
On May 21, they formally submitted a letter containing 100 signatures to the Municipal Commissioner reiterating their demand.
Claiming that the non-vegetarian Barista outlet on sacred Nallur land hinders the ethnic and religious coexistence, Thavathiru Velan Swamy has requested its closure in a letter to the Municipal Commissioner.
Copies of the letter submitted to the Municipal Commissioner by the protesters have also been sent to the Northern Provincial Governor, District Secretary, Secretary of the Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha, and the Director of the Department of Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs.
Thavathiru Velan Swamy stated that on May 13, MC officials verbally instructed the outlet’s management to close, and he also sent a formal email to the company’s management on the same day.
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