The Sri Saddhatissa International Buddhist Centre  launched the celebration of the Sambuddhathva Jayanthiya with programmes on Sunday 15^th May 2011 and on  the Vesak Full Moon day on 17^th May 2011, to match the celebrations in Sri Lanka .

The traditional Vesak Sil programme was arranged by the SSIBC for Sunday 15^th May with interesting Dhamma talks, Dhamma discussions interspersed  with meditation sessions for the over 100 devotees who took sil . The SSIBC also provided 700 meals in the Dansala for the devotees . 

As this Vesak full moon  poya day is of great significance , at the request of some devotees who wanted to observe sil, a special programme was arranged on Vesak day from 6 am . Despite it being a week day a sizeable number of devotees observed sil .The Nepalese community in London also flocked to the SSIBC from morning to observe “Buddha Purnima Day” , as they call it . 

In the evening a special Pujava was organised by Mr Wimalasiri Perera and Mrs Shanti Jayalath and family , the owners of Prime Properties , assisted by some devotees . It was a “Olumal Pujava” , offering of lotus flowers ,specially flown from Sri Lanka for the occasion   and the lighting of 2600 candles . It was a beautiful sight to remind everyone of the Vesak Celebrations taking place   in Sri Lanka .The front  court yard was decorated with scores of Buddhist flags and Vesak Lanterns of varying sizes  , skilfully made by Ven Keulgama Chandananda ; and hundreds of candles lit  in the shape of the figures two thousand six hundred  . In the back garden the Buddha Statue was adorned with flowers and candles and there were  candles lit to make the shape of dagobas etc. Mr Jayaratne Bandara , the craftsman supreme  assisted in their creation . 

Ven. Galayaye Piyadassi Sangha  Nayaka Thero inaugurated the special Pujava , which was then conducted ably by Ven. Keulgama Chandananda . Ven. Dr Handupelpola Mahinda Nayaka Thero delivered the sermon on the  meaning and significance of the Sambuddhathve Jayanthiya .The unusually large crowd appreciated this special programme and afterwards   the organisers provided a Dansala for 1000 persons . 

The Sambuddhatva Jayanthiya  started on the full moon poya day of Vesak and goes on until the Vesak  full moon day in 2012 . The World Buddhist Foundation and the Sri Saddhatissa International Buddhist Centre  is organising the next Sambuddhtva Jayanthiya  event on Sunday 12^th June 2011 at the Wembley Town Hall , because of the large  crowds expected .