This Vesak season, Daily Reporter, Impactus and the Right to Life Human Rights Centre are calling on all Sri Lankans to make a small but powerful choice: buy locally made Vesak decorations and help a struggling family earn a living.
In recent years, Chinese-made lanterns and LED lights have flooded the Sri Lankan market. They are cheap, flashy, and everywhere—from supermarkets to roadside stalls. But behind these mass-produced imports is a silent tragedy: the disappearance of traditional Vesak craftsmanship and the loss of income for thousands of poor families who depend on this season to survive.
Did you know that some villages in Ambalangoda were once well-known for crafting bucket lanterns? In recent years, however, orders have declined, and many women who supported their families through this traditional craft have lost a vital source of income.
Each hand-crafted paper lantern, bamboo frame, or oil lamp tells a story—of culture, of faith, and of dignity in work. When you choose a locally made decoration, you’re not just preserving tradition. You’re putting a few rupees into the hands of a mother, a student, a temple artisan, or a father trying to feed his children.
Let us resist the glitter of meaningless imports and instead embrace the gentle glow of our own creativity.
This Vesak, light a lantern of compassion. Buy local. Share hope.
