Close China-Lanka ties from ancient times -PM

Priyanka Kurugala

China and Sri Lanka have maintained a very close relationship from ancient times. Because of the arrival of Fa Hsien Thera it was very easy to understand and study our Buddhist culture, Prime Minister D M Jayaratne said.

The Prime Minister was addressing a ceremony on Buddhist Literature and the 1,600th Commemoration Anniversary of Fa Hsien Thera’s visit to Sri Lanka. The ceremony was held under the patronage of the Ven Dhaulgala Gnaneswara Thera at Ananda College, Colombo, yesterday. “China is a country that helped us greatly to end the war. China always supports us in our economic and social developments. Records and literature of monk Fa Hien and his travels are reliable records about the history of Sri Lanka and to study the relationship between our countries, he said.

“The expectation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to build our country to be among the most prosperous in the world. After 2,500 years we are going to rewrite the history of Sri Lanka.

“Parents should teach their children on how to live without the help of others. It is the way to building a strong nation, the Prime Minister said.

“Of all the world’s literature, Buddhist literature assumes an important place. It teaches society humanity. We should protect the Sangha to achieve this target,” he said.

Delivering the main lecture, the Kelaniya University’s Ven Induragare Dhammaratana Thera said, literature is not what it says but what is within. Buddhist literature has the strength to develop civilization. Studying literature develops discipline, understanding of culture, life and reality. “Sinhala literature has been developed with a broad vision. The Abhayaraja Kumara Suttha teaches us the correct way of using words. We should learn what we ought to speak. Even truth should not be revealed often. This is a teaching of Lord Buddha,” Ven Dhammaratana said.

The All Ceylon Buddhist Congress (ACBC) felicitated Prof Sunanda Mahendra for his services to Buddhist literature and Motagedara Wanigaratna for his services to art. Nine other literary works were also commended.

Prof Praneeth Abhayasundara, Chinese Monk Ven Yuan Ci and All Ceylon Buddhist Congress President Jagath Sumathipala also spoke.

The program was organized by the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress in collaboration with the Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs Ministry and Chinese Embassy.