Maha Sangha commends Myanmar

Sri Lanka Amparapura Sangha Council President Most Venerable Aggamaha Panditha Kotugoda Dhammawasa Anu Nayaka Thera on behalf of Bhashanthara Visharada Most Venerable Dawuldena Sri Gnaneswara Maha Nayaka Thera, Supreme Head of the Amarapura Sect, other Chief Prelates and Bhikkus of the sect has issued the following statement to Myanmar's Head of State General Than Shwe and his government welcoming the release of Myanmar's Opposition Leader Aung San Suu Kyi from detention on November 13.

The strong ties between Sri Lanka and Myanmar (Burma) resulting from Emperor Dharmasoka's worldwide Buddhist missionary work go back to the time of King Devanampiyatissa. The Kings of Myanmar and her Sangha gave their full cooperation to revive the Sri Lanka's Buddha Sasana every time it faced decline due to the impact of colonial rules. It was Myanmar's King Anuruddha and Maha Sangha who helped to strengthen the Sangha establishment in our country in 1070 AD during the rule of Vijayabahu the Great (King Vijayabahu I).

Myanmar's Amarapura and Ramanna Kingdoms were the birth places of the Sri Lanka Amarapura and the Sri Lanka Ramanna sects. All of Myanmar's literary works make many detailed references to Sri Lanka.

Even today the relationship between the two countries has made the people of Myanmar to regard Sri Lankan Buddhists with great affection. Since the decade between 1920 and 1930 Myanmar's Buddhists made an immense contribution to the renovation of the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. Everyone may recall the assistance Myanmar gave Sri Lanka by providng large stocks of rice when we faced a rice shortage, a couple of years ago.

In the context of this strong relationship it is the fervent wish of Sri Lanka's Buddhist laity and clergy that Myanmar reaches great heights as a democratic socialist state in the modern world. Furthermore,

The Most Venerabale Kotugoda Dhammawasa Thera mentioned that "we express our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to Myanmar's Buddhist Head of State, General Than Shwe and his government for releasing Opposition Leader Aung San Suu Kyi to pave the way for a strong democracy in Myanmar.