The Buddhasasana Ministry has decided to observe Poson festival on a low key this year, too, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry said the country’s second most important Buddhist festival would be celebrated this year with religious programmes, mostly via online platforms. Ministry Secretary Kapila Gunawardena told The Sunday Times that even though [...]

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For third consecutive year Poson on low key; pandal artists and technicians paint sad story

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The Buddhasasana Ministry has decided to observe Poson festival on a low key this year, too, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ministry said the country’s second most important Buddhist festival would be celebrated this year with religious programmes, mostly via online platforms.

Ministry Secretary Kapila Gunawardena told The Sunday Times that even though the state celebrations would be largely online, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would take part in the Aloka Pooja and other religious programmes at the Mihintale Rajamaha Viharaya.

Apart from these arrangements, the ministry had not organised other events in view of COVID-19 restrictions, he said. “Even if the travel restrictions are relaxed, we will not hold any large scale public celebrations,” he said, stressing the importance of controlling the spread of the pandemic.

He said if the government and the people cooperate to curb the spread of the pandemic this year, the country could have grand Vesak and Poson celebrations next year.

The secretary said they initially had a plan to hold a pandal and lantern exhibition via an online network but scrapped the plan due to concerns that they could draw crowds.

Meanwhile, with Vesak and Poson celebrations being held on low key since the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks, pandal builders and artists say they have lost their main income avenue and are now without jobs.

Pandal builder N.G. Karunathilaka said most of the technicians had sold their electrical equipment and left the industry. Now eking out a living as a house-wiring electrician, Mr. Karunathilaka said the Government had pledged to provide them financial compensation, but very little had been done to support the talented artists and technicians in the field.

“The authorities make false promises and give us false hopes while artists, electricians and even sponsors go through hardships,” he said.

Ministry Secretary Gunawardena said the ministry is aware of the plight of the pandal artists and technicians but was unable to help them due to lack of funds.

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