Consul General of Sri Lanka in Melbourne Sandith Samarasinghe participated as a special guest at the Victorian United Nations Day of Vesak held in Melbourne on 13 May 2023. The event was organized by the Victorian United Nations Day of Vesak Inc, an incorporation whose objective is to create unity and fellowship between Buddhist organisations in Victoria.
Addressing the special Commemoration event, Consul General Samarasinghe highlighted the important role that Sri Lanka and Thailand had played in bringing the 1999 UN Resolution which recognized the contribution of Buddhism to humanity and declared Vesak Day as an International Day of Observance.
The Consul General recalled the words of the late President JR Jayawardena, during the 1951 Peace Conference who quoted the words of the Buddha, “Hatred does not cease through hatred; hatred ceased through love alone”.
The Consul General noted that the Buddha’s teachings of compassion, forgiveness and non-violence are still very much important, and that people should strive to embody these in their daily lives and work towards a more peaceful and harmonious world.
Other special guests included representatives from the Boonwurrung Land & Sea Council, the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, the Interfaith Center of Melbourne, and the Sikh Interfaith Council of Victoria, while there were messages from the Australian Prime Minister, the Victorian Multicultural Commission, and the Zoroastrian Association of Victoria. The commemoration event was preceded by a Sangha Dana, pindapatha, and a Friendship Walk.
Consulate General of Sri Lanka
Melbourne
27 May 2023
