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| Monday, 1 March 2004 |
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by Victor Alahakoon - Peradeniya special correspondent The Founders Day of the Kandy Buddhist Association (Janaury 29, 1945) was ceremonially commemorated to mark the 59th anniversary of the Association at the KBA Hall in Kandy, recently. The participants included a large membership both past and present with a pioneer member of the Association T. W. de S. Amerasekera, a former President of the KBA as the Chief Guest. C. E. Jayasinghe, KBA President, said that the KBA was established for the sacred purpose of spreading the Buddha Dhamma. He said that the Association came into being during the time of the second world war, when foreign military personnel were stationed in Kandy. He said, a Dutch Bhikkhu, Bhikkhu Dhammapala, Henry Varn Zeyst in lay life was residing in Hantana, Kandy and on a request made to him by these foreign forces,he started English language lectures on Buddhism for these forces and thus began the Association. People like Sir E. A. H. Wijewardene, Supreme Court Judge, N. E. Weerasoriya, K.C., M/s H. A. de Silva, District Judge of Kandy, A. S. Karunaratne, Mayor of Kandy, William Goppalawa, Municipal Commissioner, Dr. G. W. Karunaratne, Dr. W. L. Vitharana, Br. B. W. Perera, Dr. E. Amerasinghe, Walter Thalgodapitiya, A. C. B. Walgampaya, A. C. S. Dissanayake, L. J. de S. Seneviratne, E. L. Senanayake, B. H. Dunuwile residing in Kandy at the time, encouraged and helped Bhikkhu Dhammapala in his endeavours and the KBA owes a great sense of gratitude to them, the pioneers of the Association. Jayasinghe said that KBA not only caters to the religious needs of all sections of the people but is also engaged in a large number of social service activities in the district. The others who addressed the audience were T. W. de S. Amerasekera, the Chief Guest, K. P. Jinasena, General Secretary KBA and Dr. M. Amarawardena, Executive Member KBA. The Anusasana was given by Ven. Deraniyagala Dharma Vijaya Thera, Chief Incumbent of the Subodaramaya in Peradeniya. |
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