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Commemoration of 250th anniversary of Buddhist Upasampada and Sri Lanka-Thailand historical and cultural relations

This year is the 250th commemorative year of the re-establishment of Higher Ordination (Upasampada) for Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka by the Mahatheras from Thailand and the establishment of Siyam Maha Nikaya on 20 July 1753 in Kandy during the reign of King Kirti Sri Rajasingha (1747-82).

This event could be considered as the culmination of the exchange of cultural heritage between two Asian nations with the intervention of a contemporary European power, namely, the Dutch, states a Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka press release. As a result of this triangular relationship of three nations, namely, Sri Lanka, Thailand and The Netherlands, a considerable archive has been created in three languages and still preserved in three countries for further research.

This archival heritage relating to this triangular relationship has not been adequately utilised for historical research. Taking into consideration this factor, the Council of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka (RASSL) unanimously decided to commemorate the event and bring to light hitherto unknown facts on this subjects by (a) organising an International Seminar on July 21 and (b) publishing a special number of the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society on the same subject.

This event will take place on July 21 at 9.30 a.m. the auditorium of the Mahaweli Center, 96, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7. Ven. Ambanwelle Pannasekara Anunayaka Thera of the Malwatte Chapter will deliver an Anusashana. The following presentations will be made at the Seminar. Prof. Mendis Rohanadeera on 'The Earliest Evidence of Cultural Relations between Sri Lanka and Dwaravati Kingdom in Thailand', Dr. Lodewijk J. Wagenaar on 'Looking for Monks from Arakan: A Chapter of Kandyan Dutch relations in the 18th century' and Dr. Hema Gunatilleke on 'Sri Lanka Cambodia Relations with special reference to 14th and 18th centuries'. The launching of the Special Number of the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society will also take place at this occasion.

The Minister of Buddhasasana, Justice and National Integration W. J. M. Lokubandara, Minister of Human Resources, Education and Cultural Affairs, Karunasena Kodituwakku and Term Tivayanond, Ambassador for Thailand will grace this occasion.

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