Sri Lanka ministers shave heads for Buddhist anniversary

Xinhua | People's Daily Online
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A ruling coalition minister and a provincial minister in Sri Lanka retreated into a monastery on Sunday, having shaved their heads to mark the 2,600th anniversary of Buddhism.

"They will dedicate themselves to the religion throughout the next 10 days and indulge in religious activities including meditation", Reverend Athuraliye Rathana, a senior monk and a ruling party legislator said.

Champika Ranawaka, the minister of power and energy and Udaya Gammanpila, a ruling party minister in the western provincial council and the party's spokesman were among those who shaved their heads.

They will now move to a monastery at Kanduboda near the capital Colombo clad in white for their 10 day meditiational retreat.

The 2,600th anniversary since the Buddha's attainment of Buddhahood is to be celebrated with state backing in the Buddhist majority island.

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