The posts stating that a school equipment Dansala is being held at the premises of Jaya Sri Maha Bodi Temple is false!

Subscribe to our WhatsApp Channel

In relation to Poson Poya Day, many Dansal are held in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. Accordingly. a post was circulated stating that a school equipment Dansala will be held at the premises of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Temple, and here is a fact check we conducted to find the accuracy of that.

Social Media Posts :

Social media posts were circulated stating that a school equipment Dansala will be held at the parking area of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple on the Poson Poya Day (10).

The post stated that, this Dansala is given by a Burmese monk, and books, school supplies, shoes and school bags will be donated from 5.00am in the morning till evening. It further stated that a Dansala of milk rice and other food items will also take place in relation to this.

Facebook | Archived Link Facebook | Archived Link

This post was widely circulated in Facebook.

Here is how we took steps to find the accuracy of this post.

Fact Check :

The establishment of Buddhism in Sri Lanka through the arrival of Mahinda Thero is commemorated on the Poson Poya Day. This is celebrated mainly in Anuradhapura and Mihintale for several days, starting from the Poson Poya Day, and numerous Dansal are being held islandwide, just as in the Vesak season.

Therefore, many people has shared the above post regarding a school equipment Dansala, thinking that it is true.

We contacted, Venerable Pahalathalawe Sumanasiri Thero, who is charge of the temple to further clarify this claim.

Venerable Pahalathalawe Sumanasiri Thero stated that this social media post is false and that such a Dansala is not held in the premises of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple.

Similary, a post was shared by the Thero through Facebook, stating that the shared claims are false, which was published by the Thero who is in charge of ‘Atamasthana’.

Archived Link

Anuradhapura Public Health Inspector

We inquired about this from the Anuradhapura Municipal Council and were referred to the Anuradhapura Public Health Inspector to find out about registered Dansal.

He confirmed that they have information regarding only the registered food and beverage Dansal, and that permission must be obtained beforehand for those. They further stated that neither they have infromation regarding a Milkrice Dansala as stated in the social media post, nor they were informed regarding it.

National Poson Festival

The committee meeting for the annual National Poson Fesitival was held at the Anuradhapura District Secretariat Auditorium, with the presence of the Atamasthanadhipathi, Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thero,   the District Secretary, Chairman of the Poson Festival Committee, Mr. K. G. R. Wimalasuriya and the Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation, Dr. Susil Rnasinghe.

The theme of 2025 State Poson festival is “May the world be enlightened by the teachings of Arahat Mahinda”. ( “අනු බුදු දහමින් ලොවම නිවේවා..!”) and the period from June 7, 2025 to June 13 2025, has been named as the Poson Week. The Sati Pirith Pinakama is scheduled to begin on the 7th after the Pan Perahera begins from the Isurumuni Rajamaha Viharaya on the 6th of June and the Pirith Chanting held at the Sati Pirith Mandapa located at the Mahamewna Uyana.The Hevisi Pooja at the Ruwanweli Maha Seya will be held this year too. 

Also, the procedure regarding Bhakthi Geetha, provision of water, electricity, sanitation facilities, removal of unsafe trees, marketing, first aid services, audio- visual coverage, decorations, closure of Liquor and Meat stores, and dengue control programs were discussed at the committee.  It has been taken into account that the Dansal must be carried out according to certain regulations, otherwise it may cause severe traffic congestion at the main roads.

Atamasthanadhipathi, Venerable Pallegama Hemarathane Thero has stated that the commercial companires of Anuradhapura town should be informed regarding the retainement of showy decorations of the holy place and to decorate the premises with miniaml decorations, and that the devotees who visit the premises should behave with respect for Anubudhu Mihindu Thero. Here is a statement published by the Anuradhapura District Media Division regarding this matter.

Join us to learn more about our investigative fact findings.

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Google News | TikTok