Kalasuri Jayasiri Semage

Vesak celebrations of this year bears special significance, being the year commemorating 2550 years of Buddhism. Also this is the first Vesak festival since Mahinda Rajapakse elected as the President of Sri Lanka. A concept suggested by the President a colourful and artistic pandal depicting the Ten Ethics of Righteous Governance as discoursed by the Lord Buddha is to be exacted at the Parliamentary Grounds, Kotte.

The design and the drawings of this memorable pandal is handled by the internationally acclaimed artist Kalasuri Jayasiri Semage the pandal consisting of 12 frames of pictures draw in the unique artistic style created by Semage. The famous electrician A. B. Ariyadasa specialised in pandals handle the illuminations.

Today, the entire world is endangered with violence and war. Semage has skillfully visualised how the fires of war could be extinguished through compassionate teachings of the Buddha.

Jayasiri Semage is locally and internationally famous for his labour in creating pandals. The famous Gam Udawa festivals, and Mahapola Exhibitions and numerous state celebrations were adorned with pandals exceeding 50 in members, designed and created by Semage. Sri Lanka Pavilion in EXPO Exhibitions held world wide was adorned with the historical "Makara Thorana" created by him. The massive Buddhist Pandal at the Asia-Pacific Exhibition in the city of Fukuoka in Japan was also his creation.

The pandal at the parliament ground is designed in the traditional architectural pattern and creative floral designs of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa Era. It is 50 feet in hight and 55 feet in width will be illuminated in varying designs with 30,000 electrical bulbs.

This massive creation is a donation of Deshabandu H. K. Dharmadasa, Chairman of the Navaloka Group with his blessings for the President and the whole of Sri Lankans for peace and prosperity.