2600th anniversary of the enlightenment of the Lord Buddha

Ambassador Senewiratne
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is a pleasure to be with you to commemorate the Day of Vesak, which marks the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha, and I thank Ambassador Senewiratne for the kind invitation to be part of your celebration of the 2600th anniversary of the enlightenment of the Buddha.

In today’s globalized world where poverty remains endemic, where violent conflicts claim millions of innocent lives and where climate change and environmental degradation threaten the very future of our planet, the Buddha’s message of solidarity and mutual support continues to provide important inspiration for the collective efforts to build a better world.

The principles of non-violence and the equal worth of every human being that are central to Buddhism are particularly relevant to our continued work for peace and progress. The Buddha served as a guiding star for those who were suffering, therefore we here, at the United Nations, must address the plight of vulnerable fellow human beings across the world.

The Buddha showed us that we can all strive to become better people and highlighted the unique potential of all human beings.

The Day of Vesak is therefore a welcome reminder of what we can all achieve as individuals when we set our minds to it, and what we can accomplish as the human family when we draw on the potential of all.

The universal values of compassion, tolerance and understanding unite followers of all religions and faiths. Today, as we pay tribute to the timeless teachings of the Buddha, let us pledge to truly respect those universal values, and to preach and practice peace, to drive forward development and to promote the dignity of all fellow human beings.

In that spirit, I wish you all an enriching and enlightening evening.

Thank you for your attention.