In January 2019, the WPA hosted the Sri Lanka All People Prayer Assembly 2019 in Colombo, to bless the Sri Lankan people and pray for the new year. Participants also prayed for world peace, happiness, and well-being, as well as for the world to be free from disasters.
The large-scale event began with a dance parade, elephant team, 500 monks and 700 children. Participants set off from the water temple to Ganga Lama Temple. Before entering the monastery, members of the World Peace Association delegation provided each monk with clothes, tea, and a monetary donation, to wish them a Happy New Year.
Sri Lanka’s President Maitripara Sirissena and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa attended the event. Together they wished for world peace and happiness for the people of Sri Lanka and for the world. The World Peace Association also held a conference, inviting Sri Lankans and tourists from around the world to attend the New Year’s blessing. The entire Ganga Lama Temple was surrounded by crowds of people.
President Sirissena thanked the World Peace Association for choosing to host the Spring Festival event in Sri Lanka and hoped that the World Peace Association could carry out more activities in Sri Lanka in the future to promote happier and better lives for the people of Sri Lanka. Elders of the Ganga Lama Temple also thanked the World Peace Association for choosing their temple to be the event co-host.
On the morning of January 2, 2019, Ms. Sattva Zhang, Secretary-General of the World Peace Association, and her fellow representatives received an invitation to meet with President Maitripara Sirisena of Sri Lanka at his residence. During their conversation, the president expressed his appreciation and encouragement for the work of the World Peace Association.