ANCL Vesak magazines launched
RUWINI JAYAWARDANA
The launching ceremonies of the Associated Newspaper Ceylon Ltd's
(ANCL) two Vesak magazines Dinamina Vesak Kalapaya and Daily News Buddha
Pradeepa took place at the company's premises yesterday. The magazines,
published in Sinhala and English, contain a range of articles on
Buddhism penned by scholar monks and laity.
Venerables Aggamaha Panditha Kotugoda Dhammavasa, Arama
Dhammatilaka, Alankulame Premasiri and Theripeha Somananda
Theras going through the Vesak annuals. Picture by Saman Sri
Wedage |
Chairman of ANCL Bandula Padmakumara, Board of Directors, General
Manager Abhaya Amaradasa, Company Secretary Kumudu Gunawardena and the
Editors of the two dailies Mahinda Abeysundara (Dinamina) and
Jayatilleke de Silva (Daily News) attended the event. Venerables
Aggamaha Panditha Kotugoda Dhammawasa, Mawaralae Baddhiya and Prof.
Dhammavihari Theras gave sermons on both magazines.
The Sinhala magazine was edited by Ayanthi Vithana and the English
magazine by Sachitra Mahendra. Photographs included in both magazines
are by Daily News photographer Saman Sri Wedage. The cover pictures of
Daily News Buddha Pradeepa are by Janaka Wettasinghe.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Dhammavihari Thera emphasized the
importance of preserving The Buddha's teachings for posterity and
observing Sil on Poya days.
"Most of the articles on Internet are erroneously interpreted. We
need a method for clear communication," he said.
Commenting on the Vesak magazines, GM Abhaya Amaradasa thanked the
management for making the task possible to publish the magazines on a
yearly basis. He said that one of the main events of the season is the
launch of the magazines to commemorate Vesak.
The Dinamina Vesak Kalapaya was launched for the 77th consecutive
year. Dinamina Editor Mahinda Abeyasundara said that it is the second
collection of the Dinamina Vesak Kalapaya published under him.
"Bikkhus, lay members and the laity look forward to purchasing the
magazine every year. We have noted that religious texts have become
extremely popular among the youth," he said.
Daily News editor Jayatilleke de Silva added that the English Vesak
annual is still young.
He stressed the importance of sending the magazine to foreign
Buddhist Institutes for free to create a global market for next year's
product. |