Sri Lanka, June 29 -- Following is the message from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the occasion of Poson Poya:

"It was on a Poson Full Moon Poya, such as today, that the noble teachings of Buddhism, which profoundly transformed the course of the Sri Lankan nation, were first bestowed upon this land.

"The arrival of Arahant Mahinda Thera marked the beginning of Sri Lanka's emergence as a centre of Theravada Buddhist philosophy and tradition. That momentous event, which gave rise to both a spiritual awakening and a far-reaching social transformation, extended far beyond its religious significance and laid the foundation for a more advanced cultural, social and political order throughout the country.

"Buddhism not only established ...