Landmarks Story Poson

SUNDAY JUNE 20, 2021 TIMES POSON PAGE 2 STORY PAGE 3 LANDMARKS PAGE 4 follow us on Poson lights Pic by M. A. Pushpa Kumara www.fundaytimes.lk 2 FESTIVAL TIMES Introducing Buddhism to Lanka By D. C. Ranatunga Mihintale During such a visit by eing the day that Buddhism King Devanampiyatissa, he was introduced to Sri Lanka, heard someone calling him B Poson Poya is an important day ‘Tissa Tissa’. He was taken for Buddhists in Sri Lanka. aback since no one would This year the Poson Poya day dare call him by name, is on Thursday, June 24. being the ruling king. Looking back, it was during As he looked towards the the time kings ruled Sri Lanka. side from where he heard King Pandukabhaya had his name, he saw someone ascended the throne in 437 B.C. in yellow robes appearing (Before Christ) and 70 years later on the huge rock at the city of Anuradhapura had Mihintale, a few miles been established as the ruling city. away from Anuradhapura. King Devanampiyatissa ascended The king immediately the throne in 307 B.C. threw his weapons aside Thus Buddhism was not strange to According to the Mahavamsa – and greeted Arahat Sri Lanka. the Sinhalese chronicle, the Buddha Mahinda, inviting him to come down While ruling the country, the kings had paid three visits to Sri Lanka – and select a suitable spot to stay. were used to visiting various parts of first to Sri Pada (popularly known as Once a spot was selected in the their kingdom and also to get about Adam’s Peak), next to Mahiyangana in Mahamevuna Uyana – the quiet park in merriment, along with the palace the Uva Province, and then to Kelaniya, with trees all around, the king got his assistants. They usually went about the holy place near Colombo. assistants to prepare suitable facilities carrying their weapons which were for Arahat Mahinda to meditate and to used for their safety or to aim at a introduce the religion to the people. jungle animal purely for the fun of it. Poson lights at Thanthirimale A temple mural depicting Poson Pix: The Sunday Times archives NOTE Please send competition entries to: Full Name (including Surname), Date of Birth, Funday Times Address, Telephone No. and School. Please log on to the C/O the Sunday Times Please underline the name most commonly used. Funday Times website on P.O. Box 1136, Colombo. All competition entries should be certified www.fundaytimes.lk Or by a parent or guardian as your own work. or check out the 8, Hunupitiya Cross Road, Competition entries without the full details Colombo 2. Sunday Times epaper on requested above,will be disqualified. Please note that competition entries www.sundaytimes.lk Closing date for weekly competitions: (except Reeves Art) are accepted by email. for additional pages of July 7, 2021 Please write the name of the competition and the this week's date clearly at the top of your entry and include Telephone: 2479337/2479333 Funday Times. the following details: Email: [email protected] JUNE 20, 2021 3 TIMES Happy Father’s Day, Thaththa! By Manoshi de Silva about it. But when you are tired, it's difficult to be in a "Thaththa doesn't love us!" happy mood and we have to Vinuri's mother, who was understand that Doni." cooking in the kitchen, Vinuri remembered the stopped what she was days her father was less busy. doing and stared at her. How they went to the beach Vinuri looked down and and how her father played with scraped the table with her her and Aiya. Her father walked finger. "Why would you say out of the room just then, to something like that Doni?" quickly have his meal and Vinuri didn't answer her get ready to go back to work. mother. He looked tired and his eyes The thought that her father looked very sleepy. didn't love them, had come Vinuri felt sorry for him. to Vinuri's mind a few weeks Vinuri understood that her previously. This had happened Thaththa was working so when she was talking to a hard in silence, to make life classmate over the phone. easy for her family. "What are you doing?" Vinuri felt bad for accusing Vinuri asked, "I am so bored at "He has no time for me and he's her father of not loving them. home with nothing to do!" always mad at me," complained Vinuri, The truth was that he was a "We are having a nice time because looking at her mother from the corner hardworking and responsible father. of the lockdown," replied Dinishka, of her eye. But maybe he just didn't know how Vinuri's friend. "Thaththi is at home all Vinuri's mother came out of the to express his love through words. the time now. So we get to play with kitchen and gently held Vinuri by her And that was why he never said that him all the time!" shoulders. She sat in front of Vinuri, he loved them, but only expressed it Vinuri was surprised. Her parents stared at her for a little while and forced through his actions by working hard, never played with her. Her father was a smile. "It's a difficult time we are all day and night to fulfill their needs. always working. Her mother was always going through and you know that." Vinuri wanted to do something to busy with the housework. Even her Vinuri just stared blankly. "Hospitals are let her father know that he was older brother who was getting ready for very busy these days and the hospital appreciated. She wanted to tell him his O'Level exam, didn't have any time staff has to work very hard," her mother that she knew how much he sacrificed to spend with her. explained gently. to make their life better. "So, what do you all play?" Vinuri "Thaththa has to work during the One morning, a few days later, wanted to know. night and that makes him very tired. Vinuri's father woke up for his alarm. "We play cards, carom, catchers... Have you ever been up the whole It was a Sunday. But still it was no Thaththi even comes to play in our night?" Vinuri remembered staying up holiday for him. He wished he could play house!" giggled Dinishka. late for a party once. She was very tired stay at home, relax and read a paper. Vinuri frowned, feeling slightly jealous and sleepy the next day. But he had no choice; he had to report and also sad for herself. "Then why won't he leave his job?" to work. A neatly folded, piece of white Vinuri's father worked at a hospital. Vinuri asked her mother. "If he leaves paper, near his pillow, caught his eye He was not a doctor, but these days he it, how are we to survive, Doni?" Vinuri's just then. He picked it up, curiously. was as busy as one. He worked during mother sighed. "We pay for our food, But when he opened the paper, it made night shifts and slept during the day clothes, electricity bills for our TV and him smile. time. Vinuri hardly even saw him on fridge, and everything else from what The white paper was a 'Thank You' some days. If she put the TV too loud or Thaththa earns. He works very hard to card. Written with a glitter pen, in dropped something, she was sure to get make our lives easy!" Vinuri's mother Vinuri's round handwriting. It said how scolded by him. He seemed to be always stared at her and continued, "Thaththa much Vinuri's father was appreciated, in a hurry and always in a bad mood. is sacrificing his comfort to make our for caring for his family. There were "He never plays with me!" Vinuri lives comfortable." Vinuri was silent. beautiful stickers pasted all over it, with finally managed to mutter, because her Although she knew all this, she never a small photo of their family pasted at mother kept on staring at her for an really bothered to think about it before. the bottom. Vinuri's father felt all his answer, after her accusation. Vinuri's "You know he can't play with you tiredness disappear and he felt warm mother managed a slight smile. because he needs to rest during the day and happy after a long time. "But you know how busy he is Doni." time, to stay up during the night. "Happy Father's Day, Thaththa!" He's very tired but he never complains it said at the bottom. JUNE 20, 2021 4 TIMES Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung Myanmar JUNE 20, 2021 TIMES 5 Backyard Wildlife Photography Competition for Kids In celebration of World Environment Day 2021, the WNPS WILD KIDS invites you to 'BACKYARD WILDLIFE’ Photography Competition for all children between the ages of 6 - 15 years. We encourage children to look outside and connect with nature at their doorsteps. There is a myriad of spectacular birds, odonates, butterflies and spiders amongst other life that call our backyards their home. So put on your safari shirt and hat, grab your camera and let's get exploring and photographing! We will pick a weekly winner every Wednesday till the end of June and the weekly winner will receive a book on ‘Mammals’ by Dr. Sriyanie Miththapala. Mail your images to: [email protected] or WhatsApp to: 071 664 6664 Let’s read with Room to Read! Room to Read seeks to transform the lives of millions of Dear Children, children in low-income communities by focusing on literacy and Today’s story is called gender equality in education around the world.

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