Re-establish village temple link for disciplined society - PM
The close link between the village and the Temple which existed in
the past should be re-established to create a disciplined society. This
is in keeping with the recommendations of the Buddhist Commission
report, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka said.
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A scholarship awards ceremony organised by the Nippon
Institute was held at the Mahindaramaya, Kotte under the
patronage of Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka. Here
the Prime Minister hands over a scholarship award to a
beneficiary as Nippon Institute Founder Ven. Meegahatenne
Chandrasiri Thera looks on. |
The Prime Minister said so presiding over the Nippon scholarship
awards ceremony organised by the Nippon Institute at the Mahindarama
Viharaya, Kotte recently.
The Prime Minister said the severing of the link between the temple
and the village had contributed to the present social degeneration in
the country.
This was not so in the past where the temple was the centre of
village development, he said.
Villagers then sought the help of the temple in all their daily
activities, whether it was to give a name to a child, read the horoscope
or seek medical treatment for an illness they rushed to the village
temple.
This close association between the village and the temple was broken
with foreign invasion, the Premier said.
He said this made the people shun simplicity and seek pomposity and
extravagance.
This shattered our social base and we are now feeling its ill-effects
on society he said.
In the olden days, village folk were hail and hearty and enjoyed a
long life-span because they did not engage in vices. But today there was
much liquor addiction and that certain people wanted to charge their
engines before starting day's work," he said.
Commending the services rendered by the Nippon Institute and its
founder Ven. Meegahatenne Chandrasiri Nayaka Thera, the Prime Minister
said as much as the Government, the Ven. Thera and his centre were also
committed towards creating a disciplined society.
The Prime Minister said success of any venture or endeavour depended
on proper management. Ven. Chandrasisi Thera had provided this
requirement for the Nippon Institute in ample measure.
Viharadhipati, Kotte Naga Viharaya Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera,
Founder of the Nippon Institute Ven. Meegahatenne Chandrasiri Thera,
Prof. Carlo Fonseka and several others also spoke.
Scholarships valued at Rs. 200,000 were distributed among a group of
students from low income families. |
