Srı Lanka Buddhısm

epa02168663 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