1,000 new Samaneras

Irangika Range

COLOMBO: One thousand male children will be ordained as Samanera monks in the Ramanna Nikaya under Government patronage to mark the 2550 Sambuddha Jayanthiya.

Speaking at the Cabinet Briefing yesterday, Sri Lanka Ramanna Nikaya Maha Lekakadhikari Most Ven. Prof. Waragoda Pemarathana Thera said this programme will be commenced in March at the Ruwanweliseya in Anuradhapura.

He said this was an idea of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. It would be a good solution for the present shortage of the Buddhist clergy in the country.

To make a virtuous society, we expects to fulfil this shortage by ordaining 2,550 male children for the Siyam Maha Nikaya, Amarapura Maha Nikaya and the Ramanna Maha Nikaya.

There are only 30,000 monks in the country and the Government expects to implement the programme through three stages. The Thera said around 500 monks have been ordained for the last three-four months.

A special committee will be set up to expedite this programme and 150 male children would be ordained at a public ceremony. Twenty five Nepali male children will be ordained as well.

"We are very keen on ordaining Tamil male children to Buddha Sasana.

"There are many temples in the North and East and with the implementation of this programme, the Dhamma would be popularised among the population there."