The decision to agree to celebrate Vesak as the Buddha's birthday was taken at the first Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists (W.F.B.) held in Sri Lanka in 1950. The Resolution that was adopted at the World Conference reads as follows:- "That this Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, while recording its appreciation of the gracious act of His Majesty, the Maharaja of Nepal in making the full-moon day of Vesak a Public Holiday in Nepal, earnestly requests the Heads of Governments of all countries in which large or small number of Buddhists are to be found, to take steps to make the full-moon day in the month of May a Public Holiday in honour of the Buddha, who is universally acclaimed as one of the greatest benefactors of Humanity.