Special programme launched:

Monks to teach the Dhamma in Tamil

The National Languages and Social Integration ministry and the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress have jointly commenced a programme to develop Tamil Language skills among Buddhist monks.

This programme has been organized to mark the 2600th Sambuddhathva Jayanthi.

The theme of the programme is the Dhamma message for all communities. This programme was launched at the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress premises with the participation of 215 monks who can deliver the Dhamma in Tamil.

It was held under the patronage of National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara.

One of the main targets of this programme is to make Monks with the ability to speak in Tamil introduced to the country.

On requests made by people of the Northern and Eastern Provinces, the National Languages and social Integration Ministry and the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress have planned to ensure the people's spiritual development by Dhamma Desanas from Buddhist monks who can deliver the Dhamma in Tamil.

The Ministry emphasized that this is not an exercise in religious conversion.

Organizers of the programme request volunteer organizations to implement many Dhamma programmes under the guidance of the monks who know Tamil.

They have planned to train around 1,500 monks who speak in Tamil by next Vesak.

ACBC President Jagath Sumathipala told to the Daily News "they hope to continue this programme in the future".

Social Integration Ministry Secretory M S Wickramasinghe, Buddhist Affairs Commissioner General Chandraprema Gamage and ACBC President Jagath Sumathipala also participated in this event.