The Wesak full moon day of the month of May 2011 was a very special day for all Buddhists throughout the world and in particular for the devotees of the Thames Buddhist Vihara. It was exactly 2600 years ago on this day, seated under the Bodhi tree at Buddha Gaya, in India, the Buddha attained enlightenment. Thames Buddhist Vihara commemorated this special Wesak day on Sunday 22.May 2011 and to suit the occasion, the Vihara premises were festooned with Buddhist decorations both outside and inside. An infinite variety of banners, flags, bunting, lanterns and other decorations were hung everywhere specially prepared for the Wesak celebrations. Of the special decorations, the most enchanting were the exquisitely decorated Srilankan style Wesak lantern by Sumedha Rajawiweka and a colourful Pandol depicting the life of the Buddha by Cyril Randeniya.

After administering nine precepts, Head of Thames Buddhist Vihara, Venerable Pahalagama Somaratana Chief Sanga Nayaka Thera, in his introduction, said that it was on that Wesak day, he witnessed for the first time the largest gathering of devotees, both male and female, who have observed nine precepts, ‘Uposatha Seela’, since the establishment of the Vihara about 30 years ago. As usual, the day’s programme was devoted exclusively for the benefit of those who have observed precepts, the only real way of paying the highest form of homage to the Buddha by living, at least one day, according to his sublime Dharma. Head of the London Buddhist Vihara, Venerable Bogoda Seelawimala Chief Sanga Nayaka Thera, Venerables Akurala Samitha Thera, Mahabrithanye  Kassapa Thera, Warapitiye Rahula Thera, and Drs. Sunil Kariyakarawana and Matheesa Gunathilake took part in delivering sermons, talks, conducting Pujas and meditation sessions, both in Sinhalese and English. The President of Thames Meditation Society Dr. M. Kularatna officiated in the proceedings.