Vesak wishes from the UN

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres extended wishes to all celebrating Vesak.

Issuing a statement he said "for millions of Buddhists around the world, May’s full moon represents a sacred occasion honouring the birth, enlightenment and passing of Lord Buddha."

This year, Vesak arrives at a moment of multiplying crises; an unequal recovery from COVID-19, the punishing effects of climate change, conflicts, divisions and violence.

Each crisis reminds us of how far we have fallen away from Lord Buddha’s timeless teachings. This Vesak, let us seize this moment of spiritual renewal, and honour Buddha’s wisdom by coming together as one, in solidarity, and shaping a better, more peaceful world for all people.

Late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar proposed to celebrate Vesak as a Buddhist Religious day-this was at the 54th UN General Assembly in 1999.

The proposal based on an earlier recommendation made at the World Buddhist Conference held in Colombo in 1998 was unanimously adopted. After the late Mr Kadirgamar’s proposal, Vesak day is internationally celebrated as a United Nations Observance Day