Lake House stands unrivalled amidst stiff competition

- Asgiriya Mahanayake Thera

Budusarana Vesak Edition numbers 500,000 copies:

Asela KURULUWANSA and Indika POLKOTUWA

Late D.R. Wijewardene founded the Lake House at such a powerful auspicious time that no force under any circumstance could undermine its stature. It is highly gratifying to note that the present Chairman of Lake House and its Board of Directors have successfully taken forward its activities close to the hearts of the people, Mahanayake of Asgiriya Chapter Most. Venerable Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Thera said.

Chairman Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd Bandula Padmakumara called on Most Ven. Tibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Mahanayake thera of the Malwatte Chapter at the Malwatte Viharaya Kandy and presented copies of the ‘Dinamina Vesak Annual’ and the ‘Budusarana Vesak Annual’ published by ANCL to the prelate. Budusarana Editor Nelson S. Perera was also present on the occasion. Picture by Gamini Ramanayake

Chairman Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd Bandula Padmakumara called on the Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkhita Mahanayake thera of the Asgiriya Chapter at the Asgiriya Viharaya and presented copies of the ‘Dinamina Vesak Annual’ and the “Budusarana Vesak Annual” published by ANCL to the prelate. Budusarana Editor Nelson S. Perera was also present on the occasion. Picture by Gamini Ramanayake

"Lake House is the bastion of newspaper organisations in Sri Lanka and this newspaper house stands unrivalled even in the midst of stiff competitions from other newcomers in the field," the Mahanayake Thera said.

The Ven. Mahanayake Thera made these observations on the occasion when the Chairman of Lake House Bandula Padmakumara presented copies of Vesak Annuals on Wednesday (6) to the Mahanayakes of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters in Kandy. On this occasion the Lake House Chairman said 500,000 Vesak annuals were printed on this occasion for the first time in history.

The Chairman received the blessings from Mahanayakes of Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters on this occasion.

"Lake House was in the forefront of national, religious and social servival in the country since its inception.

"The management and the employees of this institution two have been very cooperative," the Ven. Asgiriya Mahanayake Thera said.

Mahanayake of the Malwatte Chapter the Most Venerable Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera said he always appreciated the services rendered by Lake House in the cause of Buddhist renaissance in Sri Lanka. The Mahanayake Thera commanded the publication of Vesak Annuals presented which consist of valuable articles of cultural and religious significance.

Lake House Chairman Bandula Padmakumara said that most of the mediamen in Sri Lanka had their origin at Lake House. "Lake House is successfully able to withstand the global economic crisis today.

"We paid a huge compensation to employees who retired on a voluntary retirement scheme. There are employees who received as high as Rs. 3 million," he said.

In the matter of welfare of employees, we spend 65% of the company income. During the past two decades, we were concerned with the interest of employees at the express of the company's development. This resulted in our having to use very old machinery in the printing process," the Chairman added.

"Now we have imported a printing machine costing Rs. 120 million. Our collection of photographs are unique. Which no other place in Sri Lanka is possessed with. Today, we have computerised all these valuable ones for posterity.

"Lake House is not a mere newspaper organisation rather it is a national institution. In the national struggle, Lake House played a prominent role, by rubbing shoulders with giants of the time giving strength to the nation".

"We can hardly afford this institution to be strangled by political influence. We are always receiving the blessings of the President in all our activities. The Information Minister too has given his unstinted support. "Above all we have a good board of management and a good set of employees. It is my intention to carry forward this institution without any corruption or shortcomings with the cooperation of its employees", the Chairman said.

He said today we are able to free this institution from its former position of a political institution.

The Buddhist Association is also playing a prominent role in Buddhist activities. It is a well-known fact that this institutions is also engaged in national events. We even print the Dalada Sarana magazine the monthly magazine published by the Sri Dalada Maligawa free.

"Newspapers have a responsible role to play in the interest of the country. It is our duty to lend a hand of support to the efforts of the Government in the task of eliminating terrorism. This duty will be duly performed by Lake House, Chairman Padmakumara said.