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Colonel Henry Steele Olcott commemoration:
Col Olcott worked to revive Buddhist education
Suraj A Bandara
The country needs people like Colonel Henry Steele Olcott today to
revive the true value of Buddhism, Cultural and Arts Minister T B
Ekanayake said.
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The 104th commemoration of the founder of Colombo Buddhist
Theosophical Society and Buddhist leader Colonel Henry
Steele Olcott was held amid a large gathering at the Bauddha
Mandiraya yesterday. Here Colombo Buddhist Theosophical
Society President Sanath P Weerasekara addressing the
gathering. Ven. Hegoda Vipassi Thera, Colombo Buddhist
Theosophical Society General Secretary Saman Thilak
Hewawitarana, United Nations Buddhist Affairs Officer Thilak
Ranavirajah and members of the Colombo Buddhist Theosophical
Society and Dhamma school students attended the event.
Floral tributes were also placed at the foot of the Colonel
Henry Steele Olcott’s statue opposite the Fort Railway
Station. Picture by Mahinda Witanachchi |
He was speaking at the 104th commemoration of the founder of Colombo
Buddhist Theosophical Society and Buddhist leader Colonel Henry Steele
Olcott at the Bauddha Mandiraya yesterday.
“After 1815, there were a number of controversies in the agenda to
destroy Buddhism and its survival in this tiny island. But leaders of
this type saved Buddhism,” Ekanayake said.
The Colombo Buddhist Theosophical Society organized the 104th death
anniversary of Colonel Henry Steele Olcott.
Colonel Olcott is the founder of National Buddhist schools such as
Ananda College, Nalanda College and Visakha Vidyalaya, and several
prominent Buddhist colleges. He helped revive Buddhist education and
rejuvenate Buddhist culture in the country. He awakened the country’s
national spirit at a time it was suffering from colonial rule.
Colonel Henry Steele Olcott was an American Christian by birth but
converted to Buddhism and worked for the betterment of Buddhism until
his death.
Making the keynote address, National Heritage Minister Dr Jagath
Balasuriya said the charismatic leadership Colonel Olcott provided to
the Buddhists and Buddhism was exceptional and he sacrificed his life
for the betterment of Buddhism.
He truly supported the people in numerous ways. The culture,
education and religious rituals were protected even at a time when
colonial rulers were planning to sabotage Buddhism.
He and Anagarika Dharmapala made tremendous efforts to give due place
to Buddhism in the country and the world, Dr Balasuriya said.
Thilak Ranavirajah said a statue of Colonel Olcott will be soon set
up in New Jersey, America as an honour for this prominent Buddhist
leader.
Ven Witarandeniye Medhananda Thera, Ven Hegoda Vipassi Thera, patron
of the Colombo Buddhist Theosophical Society. Public Trustee N S A S
Senevirathna, President and General Secretary of Colombo Buddhist
Theosophical Society Sanath P Weerasekara and Saman Thilak Hewawitarana
and United Nations Buddhist affairs officer Thilak Ranavirajah were
present. |
