In the framework of Vesak celebrations, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Moscow organized a Vesak lanterns workshop for children of a Moscow State School No. 1250.
The 20 pupils of 6th, 7th and 8th grade of the Moscow state school No. 1250, aged 12-14 years took active part in the celebrations of Vesak on 27 May 2021. The event was organized as a part of cooperation between Sri Lanka and the State School No. 1250.

In the course of the event the children learned about geography, history, culture and traditions of Sri Lanka, about Vesak and its celebration on the island. The staff members of the Embassy explained the philosophical importance of the holiday, its ancient customs and the meaning of the lanterns in the Sri Lankan culture.
During the second part of the event, the pupils got a chance to try their hands in manufacturing lanterns using the pre-readied materials. They used the structures prepared of bamboo sticks, papyrus paper and other materials to assemble and decorate the "atapattama" lanterns in the traditional Sri Lankan style.

The children showed great interest and enthusiasm in production of the lanterns and tried their best to make them beautiful and authentic. In the end, the five groups of four people produced colourful lanterns, which could easily match the ones made by Sri Lankan children.

To conclude the programme the students enjoyed some Sri Lankan tea with a sweet buffet and learned the history of Sri Lankan tea in Russia. Each student also received a little present from the Embassy to enjoy at home.
The Embassy would like to present its sincere compliments to the Administration of the Moscow State School No. 1250, in particular, to Mr. Vasily Viktorovich Murzak, Director, and Ms. Elena Vasilyevna Sharkadi, Vice Director for Education, for their energetic collaboration, as well as to all the teachers who actively participated in this special event.

The Embassy team at the workshop comprised of Ms. Nirosha K. Herath, First Secretary (Culture and Education), Mr. Tishan De Silva, Third Secretary (Tea Promotion), Ms. R. L. A. N. Irushika, Attaché, Ms. Marina Stabrovskaya, Tea Promotion Assistant, and Ms. Julia Builova, Cultural Coordinator of the Embassy.
The Embassy hopes that this event will become the first one in line of cooperation with the Moscow State School No. 1250, as well as other Russian schools, to share the cultural values of Sri Lanka with the younger generation.