May 27 - June 02: National Vesak Week - Official Vesak Festival in Matara

The government has decided to hold this year's State Vesak Festival for the upcoming 2570th Sri Buddha Era, centered in the Matara District. Accordingly, the period from May 27 to June 02, 2026, has been declared as the National Vesak Week, and all arrangements have been made to grandly hold its main inaugural ceremony on May 27 at the Midellawala Purana Rajamaha Viharaya in Thihagoda, Matara.

Concurrently, the government has officially instructed all District Secretariats and Divisional Secretariats across the island to launch special meritorious deeds (pinkam) and Vesak inaugural programs on that day.

Throughout this week, a series of special daily programs aimed at enhancing the social and spiritual well-being of the people are planned. Concurrently, May 28 has been entirely dedicated to health and social welfare services, during which free medical and eye clinics will be held island-wide, blood donation camps will be organized, and special programs for registering organ donation volunteers will be implemented. Subsequently, on May 29, drug prevention programs targeting school and Dhamma school students, and special counseling sessions for the youth community are scheduled, while 'Shramadana' (voluntary labor) campaigns centered around hospitals and elders' homes will also be active on that day.

On May 30, which is the Vesak Full Moon Poya Day, all temples have been instructed to organize 'Seela' (observance of precepts) and meditation programs, giving priority solely to 'Prathipaththi Pooja' (offerings of practice), and the relevant announcement emphasizes that no carnivals or musical shows should be held on that day. May 31 has been allocated for developing facilities and capacity-building training programs for monks studying in Pirivenas (monastic colleges). Subsequently, on June 01, arrangements have been made to hold Dhamma discussions, sermons, and meditation programs aimed at public awareness, centered around temples. On June 02, 'Shramadana' activities such as cleaning public places, planting trees, and creating herbal gardens are scheduled to be carried out in conjunction with the 'Clean Sri Lanka' national program.

The Ministry has also issued specific guidelines regarding a special banner that must be displayed in all government institutions, non-governmental organizations, and temple premises across the island for this National Vesak Week. Accordingly, an 8x4 feet banner with the theme “Ahiththaretha Kalyane” or 'Let us quickly align for the common good' must be displayed, and it is essential that it be printed with maroon letters on a light yellow background.