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| Monday, 29 March 2004 |
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The 72nd issue of the Dinamina Vesak annual (Kalapaya) is not only interesting for reading but also a valuable subject for literary research, said Ven. Dr. Welamitiyawe Kusaladhamma Thera, Chancellor, Kelaniya University and Chief Sanghanayake of Colombo and Chilaw Districts. Delivering an anusasana at the launching of the Dinamina Vesak Kalapaya 2004 at the Vidyalankara Pirivena Library auditorium on Thursday, Ven. Kusaladhamma Thera said the Dinamina Vesak Kalapaya series had published very valuable literary articles down the ages ever since its publication was started by Lake House (ANCL) in 1933 to promote a Buddhist revival in the country. He said Lake House was started by its founder, the late D. R. Wijewardene to assist the country's freedom struggle and create a revival of Buddhism and culture. Ven. Kusaladhamma said people of this country lost their customs and traditional values due to their subjugation to colonial domination in the past. He said Sinhala literature and Buddhist values are one and the same thing. The British first found it difficult to subjugate the country without breaking the link between the temple and the village. It was to foster links between the Buddhist clergy and laity that Daham Pasalas were started in village temples. The Lake House started by the Wijewardene family too had rendered a great service towards this endeavour by contributing towards a Buddhist revival, he said. Ven. Kusaladhamma who congratulated the Lake House management and the Editor of the Vesak Kalapaya and other staff for putting out a quality number this year, noted that until recently the Budusarana paper had a custom of publishing valuable literary articles carried in the paper in book form. It would do well for Lake House to revive that publication for the well being of the Buddha Sasana, he said. Lake House (ANCL) Editorial Director Karunaratne Paranavithana said they were attending a dharma dana pinkama. According to Buddha's teachings Dharma dana is considered as a most rewarding meritorious deed. He said the Dinamina Vesak Kalapaya occupied a pre-eminent place in the history of Buddhist Literature in the country. The publication launched in 1933 was first edited by late veteran journalist and intellectual Piyasena Nissanka. Ever since it had been published without a break for the last 72 years. Paranavithana said they have priced this year's copy at Rs. 50 per copy as against the earlier Rs. 125 per copy on a suggestion by Lake House chairman Kesarralal Gunasekera. The chairman had said they should make use of the publication to promote the Buddhist cause without trying to make a business out of it. Ven. Prof. Meegoda Pannaloka Thera also spoke. Earlier Lake House chairman Kesarralal Gunasekera presented the first copy of the Dinamina Vesak Kalapaya 2004 to Ven. Kusaladhamma Chief Sanghanayake Thera after it was handed over to him by its Editor Dr. Ranjith L. Abeywickrema who is Associate Editor of the Silumina. |
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