Sir Cyril de Zoysa did much for Buddhism - Bradman Weerakoon

Divakara MOHOTTI -Kalutara gr corr

Social worker, Sir Cyril de Zoysa, was able to provide sacred places of worship for Buddhists and people living in the Kalutara district. Among them are the Kalutara Bodhi premises and the cetiya with enshrined sacred relics of the Buddha. Sir de Zoysa was able to make this sacred precinct complete with a unique Dharmasala valued at several million rupees, said one time Secretary to five former Prime Ministers Bradman Weerakoon.

He was speaking at the annual literary meeting of the Kalutara Bodhignana Library recently.

The meeting was held under the patronage of Bodhi Trust chairman Ajith de Zoysa.

Weerakoon said that the reading habit among the present generation is fast disappearing.

"It is difficult to understand as to why this is so. It is important to propagate the reading habit among the younger generation," he said.

Weerakoon appealed to the students to read a lot. "You will realize the value of reading after you grow up," he told students.

Books worth about Rs 30,000 were distributed among selected schools in the Kalutara district.

The books were presented by the Asia Foundation.