A circular has been issued instructing Vesak Dansal organisers not to use Buddhist flags to direct the public to their stalls, and to use yellow flags instead, Buddhist Affairs Commissioner (Development) Asela Madhusankha said on Monday (18).
Speaking at a media briefing at the Department of Government Information on preparations for the State Vesak Festival, Madhusankha said the circular had already been issued with Cabinet approval.
“We have already issued a circular across the country requesting organisers not to use Buddhist flags to direct people to Dansals and instead use yellow flags for that purpose,” he said.
District secretaries, divisional secretaries, Buddhist religious councils and the Inspector General of Police had been informed of the directive, the Commissioner added.
The circular also covers what officials described as “certain inappropriate practices and offerings that do not align with the religious significance of Vesak,” with special instructions included to regulate them alongside the Dansal guidelines.
The directive comes ahead of the State Vesak Festival scheduled for May 27 to June 2 and the Vesak full moon poya on May 31. It follows separate environmental and conduct advisories on the upcoming festival, including the Environment Ministry’s voluntary call to curb single-use plastics and polythene at Dansals and broader celebration guidelines from religious authorities.
