Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 29 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release:
It was on a Poson Full Moon Poya Day 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 Arahat 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 a strong found...