“Walk for Peace” to begin in Dambulla under state patronage

The well-known “Walk for Peace” is set to start today, April 22, in Dambulla, with plans to continue until April 28, supported by the government. The peace march will kick off at 6:30 a.m. It will feature a spiritual procession that carries a sacred Bodhi sapling from the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, traveling through major cities to promote unity, compassion, and harmony. Previously, over 200 Buddhist monks completed a 110-day peace walk from Texas to Washington in the United States, traveling through 10 states and gaining worldwide attention for their mission. This initiative, named the “Ehipassiko Walk for Peace,” is now set to take place in Sri Lanka with government support until April 28. A group of monks, led by Venerable Pannakara Thero from Vietnam, arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday to join the event. They are accompanied by a dog named “Aloka.” On the first day, the march will go from Dambulla to Matale, and then it will move to Kandy the next day. On Thursday, the march will start again from the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy. The route will include Kegalle, Yakkala, and Mahara, ending at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya on April 27. The final day, April 28, will include a public gathering in Kelaniya, followed by a ceremony at Independence Square with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in attendance.