Sambuddhatva Jayanthi:

Largest Buddhist Mandiraya opening on May 15

Priyanka Kurugala

World’s first Buddhist museum in Kandy

Asela Kuruluwansa

The world’s first Buddhist Museum set up at Kandy’s Sri Dalada Maligawa complex will be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on May 20 to coincide with the 2,600 th Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi celebration. The museum comprises artifacts and other objects depicting the civilization and culture of 17 countries to which Buddhism has spread.

The museum has been created on a concept of Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara at the Colonial Courts complex in Kandy which was donated to the Sri Dalada Maligawa by President Rajapaksa.

Among the countries represented at the museum are China, Korea, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

The opening ceremony of the largest Buddhist Mandiraya of the Therawadi Buddhist World, the Sri Sambuddhthwa Jayanthi Mandiraya, will take place under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s patronage on May 15 at 8.30 am, Buddhist Cultural Center Director and Founder Father of the Buddhist Information Centre Ven Kirama Wimalajothi Thera said.

Meanwhile, Havelock Road will be named as Sambuddhathva Jayanthi Mawatha to commemorate the 2,600 th Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi the Thera said. The Organizing Committee has also drawn a plan to hold Buddhist religious activities to mark this event.

A sanghika dana to 200 monks, other religious activities and a Perahera has also been scheduled to mark the Sambuddhthva Jayanthi with the participation of Bhikkus, Bikkuni and lay devotees – A total of 2,600 school children also will also participate in the event. The perahera will commence at 3.00 pm and parade Sambuddhathva Jayanthi Mawatha.

A Pirith chanting ceremony will be held from 4.00pm to 11.00 pm to the bless the building.

The Buddhist Mandiraya is the large library, archives and information centre of the Therawada Buddhist world. It costs around Rs 330 million, Buddhist Culture Center Director Ven Kirama Wimalajothi Thera told the Daily News.

The Mandiraya has been constructed as a multi-purpose project. It consists of one of the largest Buddhist book centre of the Buddhist world, a conference hall with seating facilities for 600 information facilities,language laboratory, audio visual studio and a section for various Buddhist missionary activities, the thera said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa provided the land for the building, the Thera said.