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| Thursday, 1 January 2004 |
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Rally round all forces to overcome challenges by Sanjaya Asela Maturata in Kandy 'The Buddhist public and the Maha Sangha giving them leadership are facing several challenges today. May the Malwatte Chapter of the Shyamopali Maha Nikaya led by the Most Ven. Mahanayake Thera gain courage and strength to rally all forces round them to overcome these challenges successfully,' said Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse. Mr. Rajapakse was addressing the gathering at a ceremony held at the Mangala Uposhathagaraya of the Malwatte Viharaya in Kandy on Wednesday December 24 to mark the handing over the acts of appointment to two eminent Bhikkhus by the Karaka Maha Sangha Sabha of the Malwatte Chapter. A large number of Buddhist clergy and laity including the members of the Karaka Maha Sangha Sabha of the Malwatte Chapter led by Most Ven. Rambukwelle Vipassi Mahanayake Thera attended the ceremony. At this ceremony Ven. Dr. Aluthwewe Soratha Nayake Thera, Viharadhipati, Kirivehera Raja Maha Viharaya received the Act of Appointment as Upadyaya with the honorary title Vinaya Keerthi Sri while Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Thera, Viharadhipati, Gangaramaya, Hunupitiya received the Act of Appointment as Chief Sanghanayake Thera of Colombo Nava Korale with the honorary title Kirthi Sri Sumangala. Mr. Rajapakse said Ven. Aluthwewe Soratha Nayake Thera had rendered a great service towards the Buddhist public with Kataragama as the nucleus. He pioneered the effort to provide tiled roofs to the poor who lived in wattle and daub houses and to transform the dry lands in Kataragama into wetlands through the introduction of the 'Diyawara Villages' program by providing the necessary guidance and inspirations to the politicians in the region. As principal of the Kataragama National School Ven. Soratha has rendered a vital service towards the education of poor children by introducing new technology to the school system. The welfare activities introduced by Ven. Soratha Thera has helped to protect and safeguard Buddhism and its followers in the region at a time when poor Buddhists in other regions were being lured into other religions through the granting of material benefits and various other inducements. Referring to Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Thera, Mr. Rajapakse said Ven. Gnanissara Thera had succeeded in transforming Hunupitiya which belonged to minority groups into a predominantly Buddhist area through his social and religious activities. The Buddhist public and the Maha Sangha who gave them leadership faced several challenges today. He hoped the Malwatte Chapter led by its Most Ven. Mahanayake Thera would gain courage and strength to unify all forces to successfully overcome those challenges. Viharadhipati, Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, Ven. Dr. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkhita Thera said the conferment of an Upadyaya post to a member of the Sangha was a significant event in this era when the doctorate is facing belittlement. The post of Upadyaya could be described as a distinguished post which helped to create discipline among the bhikkhus. There was a large number of bhikkhus engaged in a silent national and sasana service in the country through proper identification of people's problems and needs. All these services should be brought under a single wing to ensure greater benefits to the people. Lekahadhikari of the Malwatte Chapter Ven. Niyangoda Vijithasiri Thera, Southern Region Development Minister Ananda Kularatne, Basnayake Nilame of the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya Nilanga Dela Bandara and several others also spoke. |
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