PM at WFB anniversary :

Buddhism preserved in purest form in Lanka

Priyanka Kurugala

The performance of the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) in propagating the message of peace and tolerance had been successful over the years. The World Fellowship of Buddhists had exerted pressure and influence on the countries in conflict to follow peace, Prime Minister D M Jayaratne said.

He was addressing the Opening Ceremony of the 25th General Conference and the 60th anniversary of the World Fellowship of Buddhists in Colombo yesterday.

Prime Minister D M Jayaratne officially inaugurated the ceremony.

“Sri Lanka takes great pride in being able to preserve Buddhism in its purest form for over two millennia in spite of intermittent foreign invasions and many other threats to its sovereignty,” it had to face during this past long period.

“Sri Lanka had sent the message of the Buddha to other Asian countries. These countries had nurtured their cultures and the traditions moulded by the teachings of the Buddha,” he noted.

”Because of the common religion of Buddhism bonds of friendship and brotherhood among Buddhist countries had developed and strengthened,” he added.

When the WFB was started there were only a few members. This number had grown in to highly influential international Buddhist Organization within the last 60 years.

It was a historic occasion that saw the commencement of the W F B in 1950. It brought all the Buddhist countries under one umbrella. “We all should respectfully remember the great service rendered by late Professor Gunapala Malalasekera who pioneered the setting up of the W F B.”

Addressing the Opening Ceremony W F B Senior Vice President Ananda W P Guruge said they can be proud as Sri Lankans that the Buddhists of the world have come under one flag today. It was started by Colonel Henry Steele Olcott.

A portrait of World Fellowship of Buddhists Founder late Prof Gunapala Malalasekera was garlanded by Senior Vice President Ananda W P Guruge.

The W F B Chairman presented a Buddhist statue to Prime Minister D M Jayaratne to mark the 60th Anniversary of the World Fellowship of Buddhists.

All Ceylon Buddhist Congress Chairman Jagath Sumathipala also spoke.