This year’s Eastern Province Poson festival will be held at the sacred Deegawapiya temple premises while giving prominence to the Poson Poya rituals on full moon Poya Day on June 24, the Defence Secretary and the Chairperson of ‘Archaeological Heritage Management Presidential Task Force’ (PTF) for Eastern Province, Gen. Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) revealed (Mar 17). Plans are afoot for sacred relic exposition for public veneration at the Deegawapiya premises on the forthcoming Poson Poya Day while fetching both recently unearthed relics from the site and those preserved at the Archaeology Department, the Defence Secretary pledged. The Poson Poya Day programme would be held amidst Dhamma preaching sessions and pirith chanting led by Maha Sanga and respected Buddhist Chief Prelates in the country, he said. Maha Sanga including the Chief Prelate of Deegawapiya temple Ven. Boralande Vajiragnana thero, Public Security Ministry Secretary Maj. Gen. Jagath Alwis (Retd), Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry Secretary Prof. Kapila Gunawardana, Ampara Government Agent D.M.L.

Source: The Nation March 18, 2021 07:05 UTC