VESAK 2009 - International Buddhist Festival

An unprecedented Vesak Festival was held at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall-BMICH -the premier Convention Centre in Sri Lanka. The Festival took place from the 9th to the 12th of May 2009.

This pageant is a preface to the glorious spiritual event that will dawn in the Vesak season of 2011, which is the 2600th year of the attainment of Supreme Enlightenment by Ascetic Siddhartha. “Vesak 2009 - International Buddhist Festival” a multi-faceted pageant, presented a series of spectacular events and activities, a variety of performances and a workshop which led to higher understanding andinteraction on issues relating to Film making and Buddhism.  

The large number of visitors to VESAK 2009 Festival acquired an experience they have never known before.

The activities began each evening with a procession leading to the worship of the statues of the previous Twenty-eight Buddhas. The Inaugural Ceremony was attended by the Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena,Minister of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage, Senior Monks - Ven. Prof. Bellanwila Wimalaratana,The Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayawardhanapura,Ven. Kotapola Amarakiththi, The President of the Shanthi Foundation, a delegation of Buddhist dignitaries from South Korea and participants in the VESAK 2009 Festival.