The concluding ceremony of the seven-day “Ehipassiko” Walk for Peace was held this afternoon (28) at Independence Square, with the participation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The peace walk, which commenced on the 22nd near the Dambulla Raja Maha Vihara, was organised based on the Buddha’s teaching “Charatha Bhikkhave Charikam Bahujana Hithaya Bahujana Sukhaya Lokanukampaya”, carrying a message of compassion and loving-kindness. It was led by Vietnamese-born Ven. Pannakara Thero along with 12 foreign monks, covering a distance of over 210 kilometres before reaching Colombo.
During the ceremony, President Dissanayake formally handed over a sacred relic of the Buddha and a sapling of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi to Ven. Pannakara Thero.
The event was attended by the Anunayake Theras of the Malwathu and Asgiri Chapters of the Siam Nikaya, Ven. Niyangoda Vijitha Siri Thero and Ven. Narampanawa Ananda Thero, together with Ven. Pamunugama Sri Sumangala Thero of the historic Somawathiya Raja Maha Vihara and Ven. Melpitiye Wimalakiththi Thero, along with members of the Maha Sangha of the three Nikayas.
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Also present were Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Dr Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government A.H.M.H. Abayarathna, Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof, other parliamentarians and senior officials. Diyawadana Nilame Nilanga Dela Bandara and a large gathering of lay and clergy also attended.
Delivering the main sermon, Ven. Pannakara Thero said he had offered participants a simple yet powerful discipline throughout the journey, repeatedly sharing a single message.
“Be mindful. Be mindful of your thoughts. Be mindful of your words. Be mindful of your actions. And regardless of background, belief or identity, let loving-kindness and compassion towards oneself, others and all beings be your guiding principle. Unity does not mean that we are all the same,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to the people of Sri Lanka for the respect, kindness and hospitality shown along the route, noting that such gestures reflected the true strength of a peaceful nation.
Reflecting on the journey, the Thero said the walk was not merely a physical passage across the country, but a connection from heart to heart. He described how participants endured rain, scorching heat and barefoot walking on rough roads, yet were met with care and compassion at every stage.
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He also reiterated seven principles for sustaining peace, drawn from the teachings of Gautama Buddha, including unity through dialogue, ethical conduct, respect for elders, protection of women and children, preservation of cultural and spiritual values, and respect for virtuous living.
The Thero further emphasised inner transformation, stating that peace must first be cultivated within the individual before it can extend to families, society and the world.
Highlighting a symbolic presence during the walk, he referred to a dog named “Aloka”, saying it conveyed a powerful message that compassion must extend to all living beings.
He also expressed gratitude for the offering of a sacred Bo sapling from the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi to the Dhammachetiya project in Texas, describing it as a living bridge of Dhamma connecting Sri Lanka with the world.
The ceremony concluded with a renewed call for mindfulness, unity and compassion as the foundation for lasting peace, with Ven. Pannakara Thero urging the public to begin each day with the affirmation: “Today will be my peaceful day.”