President participates to the national Poson Festival at Mihintale

Let Us Join Hands for Positive Social Transformation Based on the Civilizational Heritage Rooted in the Buddha’s Teachings – President

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized that the transformative changes that occurred with the arrival of Buddhism contributed significantly to shaping the Sri Lankan people into a civilized nation.The President highlighted that the national Poson Festival cannot be meaningfully celebrated without recalling the arrival of Arahant Mahinda and the significance of Mihintale, which led Sri Lankan society towards a transformation grounded in moral and spiritual values.

He further pointed out that preserving such a spiritually rich heritage site for future generations is a duty of the state.

President Dissanayake noted that this responsibility can only be fulfilled by citizens who are connected to the land in a meaningful way, not by those who are metaphorically "floating above it." He also mentioned the launch of a program aimed at the restoration and revitalization of the ancient city of Anuradhapura.

The President explained that the arrival of Arahant Mahinda marked the beginning of Sri Lanka becoming a central hub of Theravāda Buddhist philosophy and tradition. This profound event went beyond mere religious significance, becoming a catalyst for spiritual awakening and a well-structured development across Sri Lanka’s cultural, social, and political spheres.

He reiterated the importance of reinstating this type of society in modern times, to build a morally upright, socially conscious, and environmentally responsible contemporary state.

President Dissanayake stated that the Sri Lankan government is currently undertaking projects to reconstruct Anuradhapura — the site of the country’s first city, first reservoir, first surgery, and ancient irrigation marvels and that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already expressed willingness to support this effort.

Further elaborating on his vision, President Dissanayake said that any nation requires a strong foundation to rise. For Sri Lankans, such a foundation has been provided by the Buddha’s teachings. He emphasized that in a society where education is withering, it is not realistic to expect strong citizens. Over 2,000 years ago, it was Buddhism that brought about an educational transformation in Sri Lanka, turning temples into centers of learning and spiritual development. Through this, a civilized social structure was established. He acknowledged the invaluable contributions of Buddhist monastics over the past 2,500 years in shaping this social order.

However, the President also lamented that this social structure has deteriorated. He cited issues such as some police officers protecting criminals, immigration officers issuing illegal travel documents, underworld figures receiving flight permits, prison officers unlawfully releasing inmates, and corrupt practices within the Department of Motor Traffic. Citizens are no longer mentally at ease with these institutions, he said.

Therefore, it is necessary to revive civil decency and integrity among citizens, and Buddhist philosophy offers a guiding path for this. The President stressed that reestablishing a disciplined and ethical nation requires the collective cooperation of the people. Only then can Sri Lanka transition from this period of decline to an era of material and spiritual prosperity.

For the past two years, the National Poson Festival could not be held under state patronage. The Chief Incumbent of the Mihintale Raja Maha Viharaya, Ven. Dr. Walawahengunawe Dhammarathana Thero, expressed gratitude to the President for making a decisive move to revive the state-sponsored celebration of the festival at Mihintale.

A formal acknowledgment and statement of purpose were delivered by the Chief Incumbent of Mihintale Vihara, Ven. Surukkulame Indrarathana Thero.

In attendance at the event were Ven. Dr. Walawahengunawe Dhammarathana Thero; Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Hinuduma Sunil Senevi; Minister Vasantha Samarasinghe; Deputy Ministers Gamagedara Dissanayake and Susil Ranasinghe; Members of Parliament Sene Nanayakkara, Thilina Tharuka Samarakoon, and Bhagya Sri Herath; and Anuradhapura District Secretary Ranjith Vimalasuriya, among many others.