A discussion on providing state patronage for the ‘Walk for Peace Programme in Sri Lanka’ was held at the Presidential Secretariat Sri Lanka yesterday (02), with the participation of monks who earlier undertook a 110-day peace walk across 10 states from Texas to Washington in the United States.
The meeting was chaired by Ven. Dr. Melpitiye Wimalakitthi Thero and attended by Secretary to the President Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Twelve monks led by Ven. Pannakara Thero, who spearheaded the peace walk in the United States, are scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on April 21. The peace walk in Sri Lanka will take place over seven days from April 22 to April 28.
The programme will begin on April 21 after receiving blessings at the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura. A sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi, obtained with the blessings of the Maha Sangha, will also be ceremonially carried during the peace walk.
Following religious observances at the Ruwanweli Maha Seya, the message of peace will be conveyed to the public.
The walk will recommence from Dambulla on April 22 and pass through Naula, Matale, Kandy, Kadugannawa, Kegalle, Tholangamuwa, Kajugama, Yakkala, Mahara and Kelaniya before concluding at Independence Square Colombo on April 28.
Marking the conclusion of the programme, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to officially hand over the Sri Maha Bodhi sapling to the visiting Maha Sangha.
The peace walk will also receive support from the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, with discussions focusing on logistics, including alms, sanitation facilities and security arrangements.
Senior government officials, including the Inspector General of Police and senior tri-forces officers, were also present at the meeting, according to the President’s Media Division. (Newswire)