Bodhi Pooja to invoke blessings on Japanese people

The Sri Lanka Agonshu Friendship Foundation is organizing a Bodhi Pooja to be held at the Kotte Raja Maha Viharaya, Kotte at 7.00 pm on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 to invoke the blessings of the Noble Triple Gem on the Japanese people affected by the recent earthquake, tsunami and the threat of radiation from the nuclear reactors at Fukushima.

During the past 17 years the Sri Lanka Agonshu Friendship Foundation has been carrying out several projects beneficial to Sri Lankan people.

Under the Agonshu Scholarship Program so far 9240 annual scholarships have been awarded to students in 19 Coordinating divisions covering seven of the nine Provinces in Sri Lanka.

Under other projects, development assistance have been provided to over 50 temples and over 35 schools in various parts of the country. Numerous sick, old and destitute people have been assisted with medicine and other requirements. At the fully equipped Most Ven Seiyu Kiriyama Special Vocational Training Centre set up at Morawaka in the Southern Province and run in collaboration with the Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka over 1,000 youths have been provided with vocational training in various fields. Considerable number of Sri Lankan Buddhist monks and lay Buddhists have been provided with the opportunity of visiting places of religious importance in Japan and conducting Theravada Buddhist rituals, promoting cooperation and understanding among Sri Lankan and Japanese Buddhists.

Therefore as a grateful people it is the duty of all Sri Lankans to show their solidarity with the Japanese people at this tragic hour. Hence the Board of Directors and the members of the Sri Lanka Agonshu Friendship Foundation have organized this Bodhi Pooja to invoke blessings and seek courage and strength for the Japanese people to over come this unexpected calamity.

Several Nayaka Theras, prominent politicians and other distinguished persons are expected to attend this Bodhi Pooja for which the Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka Kunio Takahashi too has been invited.