Buddhist Literary Festival:

Release of five Buddhist publications

Priyanka KURUGALA

Five new publications on Buddhism to mark the Buddhist Literary Festival in connection with the 2600th Sambuddhathva Jayanthi will be released on September 26. The Buddhist Literary Festival will be held under the joint collaboration of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress (ACBC) and the Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs Ministry, ACBC President Jagath Sumathipala said.

Arrangements are all underway to hold the Buddhist Literary Festival on a grand scale at the ACBC on September 26. For the fifth time, this ceremony will be held under the patronage of the Asgiri Chapter Mahanayake Thera Most Ven Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Thera with the participation of Prime Minister D M Jayaratne.

These new Buddhist books by five authors have been selected for awards under the direction of ACBC Vice President Prof Praneeth Abhayasundara and an experts board. The ceremony will be held with participation of scholars and schoolchildren.

These books are Budupilimayata Pera Buduhamuduruwo - Prof Ven Bellanvila Wimalaratana Thera (Sarasavi Publication), Visala - Bhadragee Mahinda Jayathilake (Dayawansa Jayakody), Prema Kala Yathra - Somasiri Habaragamuwa (Sadeepa), Sinhala Bodhicharyawathara translated by Keerthi Narampanawa (S Godage), Bauddha Darshanaye Paschath Sanwardanaya - Prof S A G Wijesinghe and Dharshanapathi - Ven Wewagedara Seelakkanda Thera.

The main lecture will delivered by Colombo University Sinhala Department senior lecturer Ven Agalakada Sirisumana Thera.

Addressing the media, ACBC Vice President Prof Praneeth Abhayasundara said, around 1,000 new books are published annually with their first or second publications in the country. Among this collection, the ACBC board selected the most important five books to receive awards.

The G C Malalasekara Commemoration Award will be presented in memory of the Professor of the Kelaniya University Languages Department W S Karunaratna and Solias Mendis Commemoration Award will be presented to artist D G Somapala.