Srı Lanka Buddhısm

epa02168665 Sri Lankan workers erecting a pandal to mark the thrice blessed day commemorating the birth, enlightenmentthe passing away of the Buddha on Wesak day falling next week at a location in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 22 May 2010. Wesak is celebrated in the predominantly Buddhist Sri Lanka by holding religious rites, alms givingof course illuminationsthe erection of colorfully lit pandals depicting the previous life stories, 550 in all, of the Buddha. Prince Siddhartha discarded his worldly possessions in search of the truthafter several years of meditationsuffering achieved enlightenment as Gauthama the Buddha. The day of his birth, enlightenmentpassing away is celebrated as Wesakthe day has been named an international day of importance by the United Nations through the intervention of the island?s one time Foreign Minister, the late Lakshman Kadirgamar.  EPA/M.A.PUSHPA KUMARA