Special fund for Pirivena education development

COLOMBO:A special Fund for the development of the Pirivena education system will be launched soon. Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said.

Addressing a meeting at the Sitawakapura Sudhrmarama Viharaya Piriven Teacher Training Institute to mark its Golden Jubilee recently, Gunawardena said thousands of trained Piriven Teachers have been churned out by the Ratmalana Paramadhammacetriya Pirivena and the Sitawakapura Piriven Teacher Training Institute for the furtherance of Buddhism.

They are today propagating the pristine dhamma to people here and abroad, he said.

The Minister said a number of recommendation made by the Buddhasaasana Commission Report have not yet been fulfilled. President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s approval had been granted to fulfil them, he said.

Gunawardena said eventhough we have nationalised foreign owned estates and introduced land Reform Regulations nearly 1.3 acres plundered from lands belonging to Temples have not yet been restored.

The minister said he having discussions with the President to correct this wrong. The most Ven. Niyangoda Vijithasiri Anunayake thera of the Malwatte Chapter said the Government should pay more attention towards the uplift of Piriven Teacher Training Institutes to protect the Sasana and its education system.

He said these institutions needed more library and Computer laboratory facilities. A Buddhasasana Act would take effect soon giving all its authority to the commission of Buddhist Affairs.

Once this happened Viharadhipathis are expected to submit monthly, quarterly and annual reports to him and a Viharadhipathis would be in a quandary as to whose advice they should seek to prepare such reports. He requested the Minister intervention to sortout these matters.

Education Minister Susil Premajayanth also spoke Ven. Walaswewe Gunanaratena thera, Ven. Atale Piyadasri thera, Ven. Kanampelle Sumananda thera, Deputy Speaker Geethanjana Gunawardena, sitawaka UC Opposition Leader U.H. Ubeysinghe and author Somaweera Senanayake were also present.