The Sri Lankan government has issued instructions to all Divisional Secretaries and senior Officers at police stations to take legal action against those who "disrespect the Buddhist flag", the pro-government newspaper, The Island reports.

The police were urged to take action against those who desecrate the flag by using it "disrespectfully" during the Vesak festive period.

 

In a Vesak message released Saturday, the president, Mahinda Rajapaksa said,

“We had great joy in seeing Sri Lankan Buddhists giving emphasis to the principles of Buddhism with the dawn of the Sri Sambuddhathva Jayanthi at the last Vesak festival."

"With the immense pleasure of contemplating on the Buddha, we recall the great religious awakening of devotion and wisdom that spread throughout Sri Lanka during this year, as we now see the end of the Sambuddha Jayanthi commemorations on this Vesak Day. It is our wish that this joy in the Buddha and his teachings would abide in the minds of all Sri Lankans."

"The teachings of the Buddha are the best way to lead a life that is free of confusion. These teachings show us the path to lead a life free of the four-fold evils and achieve success in this world and the next."

"We must be aware that all who are of wrongful mind and thinking cause many divisions and clashes that close the doors to our progress." As it is stated in the Dhammapada:

Sri Lanka's president Mahinda Rajapaksa has commenced a programme for the  "propragation" of Buddhism to countries that do not currently practise it announced Sri Lanka's prime minister, D. M. Jayaratne  on Saturday.

Warning of the "uncertainty" caused by people pretending to be Buddhists, Jayaratne emphasised the "constitutional guarantee" the president had for the protection and foster of Buddhism.  

The comments were made at Jayaratne's Vesak message delivered on Saturday: 

“I seriously believe that in a country where the majority are Buddhists by birth we are passing through a period of uncertainty where we are confronted with the task of differentiating between the genuine Buddhists and pretenders.

The Acting Media Minister and Acting Cabinet Spokesperson, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena instructed the media to "put the country first" on Friday.

Citing the recent controversies at Dambulla and over milk, Abeywardena stated that those who had publicised these issues had wanted to bring such issues to an international arena in order to create problems for Sri Lanka.

Abeywardena said,

The body of Anthonypillai Mahendrarasa, 53-year-old Canadian citizen, was found at Kanchipuram Lane near Paranthan Junction in the Kilinochchi district of Vanni, Tamilnet reports.

Mahendrarasa was reportedly visiting the area to reaffirm his ownership of land he owns in the Kumarapuram - currently occupied by the Sri Lankan military.

His body was found naked with a slit across the throat.

Suganthy Sivalingam, a former senior LTTE cadre, committed suicide by self-immolation on Thursday night at a military run 'resettlement' camp in Vadamaraadchi, Tamilnet reports.

She had been subjected to severe mental torture during her detention at the military's 'rehabilitation' camp.

As the Buddhist festival of Vesak is observed on Saturday, Sri Lanka’s traditional lantern market, which usually flourishes during this period, has found itself under competition from a new rival; the Chinese.

Cheaper, readymade and easier to store, demand for Chinese-made lanterns has taken off in Sri Lanka, leaving the domestic market in the lurch.

The recent influx of the foreign goods has led to traditional lantern traders calling for the Sri Lankan government to intervene and protect them against their Chinese rivals.

Commenting on recently taken photographs of waving the Sri Lankan flag with UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe, the leader of the TNA R. Sampanthan defended his actions to Charles Haviland, BBC correspondent for Sri Lanka.

According to tweets posted by Haviland on Saturday, Sampanthan dismissed concerns regarding his actions stating that it was the national flag.

Haviland's tweets have been reproduced below:

Walter D. Givhan, US State Department official on political-military affairs reviewed demining efforts in the North-East over the past week.

Discussing the situation with local NGOs, Givhan reviewed the challenges faced and ongoing support needed.

During his visit to the island, Givhan also visit senior military officials in Colombo, incluing, Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Army Commander General Jagath Jayasuriya and Navy Commander Vice Admiral D.W.A.S. Dissanayake.