Sri Lanka will close meat stalls, slaughterhouses, supermarket meat counters, betting centres, casinos and social clubs for three consecutive days — May 30, May 31 and June 1 — to mark the Vesak festival.
The temporary closures form part of National Vesak Week, which began on May 27 and runs until June 2 in observance of the 2570th Vesak. The festival commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha and is the most significant date in the Buddhist calendar.
The announcement came as the State Vesak Festival was held on May 27 at the historic Mihidellawa Ancient Temple in Thihagoda, Matara, under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The closures mirror restrictions customary during major Buddhist observances. The government has already ordered liquor outlets shut over the period, and earlier issued guidelines for respectful Vesak celebrations covering decorations and conduct.
