The fourth Deyata Kirula exhibition staged in Kandy

The fourth Deyata Kirula exhibition staged in Kandy to coincide with Independence Day will be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Pallekelle International Buddhist Research centre premises on February 4 at 4 p.m.

The exhibition features about 300 State and private sector stalls.

The exhibition spread over an area of about 51 acres.

The exhibition titled Pelanda Ek Kirulak - Nevum Heta Davasak will continue daily till February 10.

The road network in Kundasale was rehabilitated at a cost of Rs. 50 million in preparation for the exhibition, said Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.

The armed forces and the police, including its para military wing, the STF will display arms and equipment captured from the LTTE at Deyata Kirula exhibition at Pallekele, Kandy, for seven days, beginning February 4. Government sources said that of the 51-acre exhibition site, about nine would be utilised by the police and security forces.

Sources said that this would be the first Deyata Kirula exhibition since the end of the war last May.

Sri Lanka’s 62nd Independence Day celebration

Sri Lanka’s 62nd Independence Day celebration will be held at the Maha Maluwa of the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy on February 4 under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

This year’s celebrations will be held in a grandiose manner since it is the first independence commemoration held in a unified country after liberating it from 30 years of terrorism.

Concurrent to the Independence celebrations an all night pirith ceremony will be held at Independence Square, Colombo on February 2 followed by a Sanghika dana at the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya on February 3 forenoon.

Celebrations on February 4 will begin with all religious ceremonies at the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy, Selva Vinayagar Kovil, Kandy, Meeramakkam Mosque St. Anthony’s Church and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Sri Dalada Maligawa (The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic)

Kandy (Ancient Senkadagala) is the last capital of the Sinhala Monarchy the History of which goes back to at least five centuries before the beginning of the Common Era. The city is surrounded by a ring of mountain ranges and Sri Lanka’s largest river Mahaweli Ganga.Kandy enjoys a salubrious climate and still breathes the ancient lifestyle of the people.The heritage of Kandy, Architecture, Sculpture, painting, Dance and Music, all such cultural traditions are endemic to Sri Lanka.Kandy remains the home for all denominations of major world religions.

Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and there subdivisions. Buddhism plays a significant role in Kandy with the two main Monastic orders, Malwatte and Asgiriya fraternities together with numerous temples of the Country attached to them.

The Temple of the Scared Tooth Relic constitutes the premier Buddhist Institution of Sri Lanka and remains the cynosure of the world Buddhist and is a great tourist attraction. The annual pageant (Esala Perahera) constitutes the greatest religious festival of Sri Lanka which attract thousands of pilgrims as well as tourists from all over the world. The web site on the Sri Dalada maligawa attempts to introduce all its aspects of history, rituals, cultural and other social activities.