New chapter for A’pura Bhikshu University
President Mahinda Rajapaksa opens University
administrative building :
Buddhasravaka Dharma Pita was established as a
University with the name of Buddhasravaka Bhikshu University by
Parliament Act No 20 in 1998 and first batch of students was
admitted in 1998. The objectives of the new university were
expanding Theravada Buddhist knowledge, culture and practice locally
and internationally in many different ways and means.
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Memories of a memory-man
Newspapers have cultures and sub-cultures,
traditions, customs and rituals. I remember one at the Sunday
Island. Manik De Silva’s erstwhile Man Friday, ‘BNL’ was such a
right-hand man that I would call him ‘Manik’ and inquire if ‘BNL’ (Manik)
was in or out. BNL would invite a small group of friends every year
for lunch, usually the first Sunday following the Aluth Avurudda.
Shamindra Ferdinando, Clifford Heiller and I were privileged
invitees. It was at one of these parties that I met the brilliant,
genial, unpredictable, eccentric and extremely lovable Ravi
Ladduwahetty, whose byline was as part of my teenage and post-teen
years and who entertained with anecdote as well as Piano Accordion.
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Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya:
Beacon of virtue and character
On a cold and misty morning in January 1946 my
mother took me by bus from our residence at Nawinna to be admitted
to the fourth standard in the newly established big fee levying
English school Dharmapala Vidyalaya in Pannipitiya. On our way I
asked my mother why I should not continue my studies free of charge
at the Government Training College School in Havelock Town which
happened to be an English medium school. She told me that Dharmapala
Vidyalaya is a branch school of Ananda College established to
perpetuate the memory of the great national hero Anagarika
Dharmapala and that in due course it would not only be a repository
of academic excellence but also a beacon of virtue and character.
She emphasized that Dharmapala would provide a sound all round
education and equip me to enter the university so that I could stand
on my own feet and be of service to the country.
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