The Buddhist way for a better world

KANDY: International Buddhist Conference, Kandy Sri Lanka 11th and 12th August 2006.

The Draft final report of the First International Buddhist Conference organized by the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy under the patronage of the Malvatta Mahavhiara, the Asgiriya Mahavihara and the Government of Sri Lanka.

Preamble:

The First International Buddhist Conference to commemorate the 2550 Buddha Jayanthi was organized by the Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and held on August 11 and 12 at the International Buddhist Research and Training Centre, Pallekele, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

The Diyawadana Nilame, Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara organized the Conference under the guidance and advice of the Most. Ven. Tibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala the Mahanayaka of the Malwatta Chapter of the Syamopali Maha Nikaya, and the Most Ven. Udugama Sri Dhammadassi Buddharakkhitha, the Mahanayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter of the Syamopali Maha Nikaya His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, extended full State patronage for the Conference.

The aim of the Conference was to bring together, Buddhist scholars, devotees and well-wishers from all over the world in order to draw attention to a prime need of the world today, to achieve world peace and strive for a better tomorrow. Thus the theme of the Conference was "The Buddhist Way for a better World."

At this Conference 154 Delegates participated of whom 52 were from Sri Lanka and 102 from 22 other countries.

At the inaugural session held in the morning of August 11 the Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara welcomed the participants.

The Most. Ven. Mahanayaka Theras of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters of the Siyam Nikaya and the Most. Ven. Mahanayaka Thera of the Amarapura Sangha Sabbha and the Most Ven. Mahanayaka Thera of the Ramanna Nikaya extended their blessings and wished success to the Conference.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressed the Inaugural Session.

The Keynote Address was made by Ven. Dr. Kakkapalliye Anuruddha Nayake Thera on the theme "The Buddhist Way for a Better World".

K.H.J. Wijayadasa, the Secretary General of the Conference briefed the participants about the programme, methodology and logistics to be adopted in conducting the Conference.

At this inaugural session four presentations were made representing Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana and the Western Buddhist Traditions.