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| Friday, 4 June 2004 |
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by Jayasiri Munasinghe, Chula Bandara Kulasekara and Ananda Pathiraja Very valuable guidance could be obtained from Buddhism towards finding a lasting solution to the ethnic problem, said President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga when she joined the inauguration of the Mihintale Aloka pooja program on its second day on June 2 through a live video tele conferencing facility from Colombo. Minister of Buddhasasa, Public Security, Law and Order and Deputy Minister of Defence Ratnasiri Wickremanayake switched on the illuminations of the Mihintale Aloka pooja in the company of Power and Energy Minister Susil Premajayantha and ANCL Chairman Janadasa Peiris. Mihintale Raja Maha Viharadhipati Ven. Namalwewe Ratanasara Thera administered pansil to the gathering. The President who thanked the Chairman and Board of Directors and Employees of ANCL as well as chairman and management and staff of the CEB for organising the Mihintale Aloka pooja program for the 42nd consecutive year added that mutual respect and fraternity and recognition of others' views and ideas were very important values we ought to propagate and cultivate today. These were very important values bequeathed on us by Buddhism which would be useful in finding a lasting solution to the ethnic problem too. It was not only Buddhism but also a valuable culture closely knit with Buddhism that Arahant Mahinda implanted in our land almost 2312 years ago. The advent of Arahant Mahinda Thera had gifted us with a culture encompassing viharas, dagobas, stupas, art, letters, sculpture murals and various other features. In short the advent of Arahant Mahinda had created a cultural revolution in this country, the President said. The President further said "our present government inspired by this Buddhist culture inaugurated a 'Punya Grama' program on last Vesak Full Moon Poya Day to uplift the living standards of the less fortunate sections of society by linking the village and the Temple to foster morals. The second stage of this program was inaugurated on Poson Poya Day on the theme "Ape Kame Yasho Lakuna" (ourness - the symbol of Glory). The main objective of this program is to launch employment and job training programs for youth in selected temples in the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa Districts". Development of undeveloped and underprivileged villages is the prime aims of this program. It is the bounden duty of us all to protect and nurture our Buddhist culture", the President said. Buddhasasana, Public Security, Law and Order Minister and Deputy Defence Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said we had received a valuable message on a Poson Poya day 2312 years ago from Arahant Mahinda Thera who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka. Love, compassion and non violence which were the essential ingredients of that message were slowly eroding from our society and we should strive hard to stabilise them once again in our society. Mr. Wickremanayake referring to the problems confronting the Mihintale Sacred City Conservation project mentioned by an earlier speaker said a special conference would be summoned in Anuradhapura next month with all parties concerned to find quick solutions to those problems. Power and Energy Minister Susil Premajayantha said the Freedom Alliance Government as a people friendly government would always dedicate itself towards protecting and nuturing Buddhism according to the provisions of the Constitution. He said the CEB had installed a permanent electricity scheme at Mihintale by spending Rs. 9 million in 2001 and another Rs. 3.6 million in 2002. His Ministry would devise a program to illuminate all places of Buddhist worship in Anuradhapura shortly. ANCL Chairman Janadasa Peiris said with a sense of humility he wished to express his delight and pride over the ability of ANCL to continue the Mihintale Aloka Pooja program continuously for the last 42 years. The link between Mihintale sacred city and ANCL had a very long history. The Mihintale Aloka Pooja program was initiated by ANCL Founder late D. R. Wijewardene in 1963.Ven. Walawahengunawewe Dhammaratana Thera delivered a special anusasana. CEB Chairman Ananda K. Gunasekera and ANCL Director Editorial Karunaratne Paranavithana also spoke. |
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