Embassy celebrates Vesak 2022

The Mission celebrated Vesak for the first time at the Chancery premises following Buddhist religious activities on 24^th May 2022. On the invitation of the Mission, Venerable Bhante Pannawansa Thero currently residing in Athens Buddhist Viharaya, conducted meditation session followed by a Pirith Chanting and Alms giving to celebrate Vesak 2022.

The event was attended by the Ambassador of Thailand in Turkey, Charge d’Affaires of Embassy of Cambodia in Turkey, staff of the Embassies of Thailand and Cambodia in Turkey, Turks especially the Turkish university students, Sri Lankans living in Turkey and the staff of the Mission. Further, Sri Lankans living in Georgia and Ukraine had the opportunity to witness the session virtually. Inquisitive Turkish students shown great interest and posed many questions to Venerable Thero about the meditation session.

During his brief remarks, Ambassador Rizvi Hassen made an introduction on Vesak to the invitees by highlighting the importance of “Vesak“ to the Buddhists all over the world and the value of meditation for life to cope with the current busy world irrespective of the religions.

During the very brief stay in Turkey, Bhante Pannawansa Thero had the opportunity to meet Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş, President and Dr. Selim Argun, Vice President of the Directorate of Religious Affairs of Turkey to exchange views on inter religious cooperation. Further, Bhante Pannawansa Thero was invited by the Embassy of Thailand to conduct a brief religious event.

Venerable Bhante Pannawansa Thero has engaged in teaching meditation more than three decades and translated many books into Sinhalese language including the publications by Khalil Gibran, Omar Khayyam and Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi.

Embassy of Sri Lanka

Ankara

24.05.2022