Due to the recent economic crisis in the country as well as the Covid crisis, Buddhists were not able to celebrate Vesak and Poson festivals on a grand scale for three years. Now the country has almost returned to normality. Sri Lankan Buddhists were able to celebrate the Vesak festival in a grand manner.
Buddhists are busy preparing to participate in the Poson Festival in June in the same way. All arrangements have been finalised to hold the Dharma Rashmi Poson Zone at Homagama and Pitipana in conjunction with the State Poson Festival to be held at Mihintale.
On the instructions of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, the ‘Dharma Rashmi’ Pozon Zone will be held and under the guidance of the Ministry of Mass Communication, the Ministry of Highways, the Ministry of Buddhist Affairs, Urban Development Authority, Armed Forces, Police, Government agencies, the Western Provincial Council, Homagama Divisional Secretariat, Homagama Regional Education Office, Homagama PS and Homagama residents.
The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (Lake House), SLRC, ITN and SLBC are the media sponsors. The Bhakti Gee will be broadcast live on ITN on June 3, SLRC on June 4 and on radio on June 5.
 Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena
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This Poson Zone, to be held on June 3, 4 and 5, is spread over 10 kilometres and covers the five main cities of Homagama, Pitipana, Harita Sarasavi Pedesa, Deegoda Road and Godagama. The ‘Dharma Rashmi’ Poson Zone No. 1 will be held based on the town of Homagama and the Sri Sugathabimbarama Temple.
A medical clinic, dansal, Poson Pandals and a devotional song concert will be held. Zone 2 will extend up to the Homagama Depot Premises, with a lantern display, Dansal and Seela Samadana programs.
Zone No. 3 will cover the Mahinda Rajapaksa College and the NSBM Green University with a lantern competition and exhibitions featuring a Sri Pada replica and Ambalangoda puppet shows (NSBM campus). A pilgrim bus will travel covering all three zones.
The Poson Lantern Competition organised by Lake House with the support of ITN will also be held on June 3, 4 and 5 at the Dharma Rashmi Homagama Pitipana Zone. All lanterns will be eco-friendly without polythene.
In this competition, the first prize is Rs.500,000, the second prize is Rs.250,000, the third prize is Rs.125,000 and the fourth to tenth prizers are Rs.25,000 each. Nearly 50 Vesak lanterns will be displayed in the open section of the competition and nearly 40 will be presented in the schools section. This is the biggest Poson event held in the Colombo District.
There is a special transport service for those visiting the Poson Zone and 65 private buses will run from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight. An open invitation is extended to all to visit the ‘Dharma Rashmi’ Poson Zone on all three days and those who wish to make any contribution should call over at the Homagama Divisional Secretary.
