Pure Theravadha Buddhism enshrined in Sri Lanka - Governor Divulgane

Walter Dayaratne - Anuradhapura Dist Spl Corr

Sri Lanka is accepted as the golden casket in which pure Theravadha Buddhist philosophy is enshrined solely due to the unflinching efforts of the Maha Sangha who did every thing possible to protect it from all the evil elements who wanted to destroy it, North Central Province Governor Karunaratna Divulgane said.

The Governor made this observation at the ceremony held in connection with laying of the foundation stone for the construction of a building to house the Meth Bo Sevana Dhamma Research and Social Development Centre at Ketukeliyawa Mahila Mawatha in Anuradhapura.

The participants were administered Pansil and a Dhamma Anusasana was made by the Chief Prelate of the Lankaramaya Ven. Ralapanawe Dhamma Jothi Thera. A Bo sapling was planted and homage to it was offered by Governor Karunaratna Divulgane, Irrigation and Water Management Minister W.B. Ekanayake and Provincial Cooperative Minister H.B. Semasinghe.

Governor Divulgane said, “We all have the good fortune to participate in this meritorious act at a place from where we can see the great Abhayagiriya Maha Viharaya and Mahamevuna Uyana when the country is celebrating the two thousand six hundred years of Sambuddha Jayanthi.

Afghanistan is the country where the biggest Buddha Statue is located. But there is no Buddha Sasana there, since not an orderly Sangha Sasana is found there. It is the presence of the Maha Sangha which ensures the existence of Buddhism in a country, the Governor said.

Every gust of wind that blows across this region, every granule of dust that is found in this area are sacred to us. The Mahaviharaya is the birth place of our culture, the Governor added.

I wish that the Ven. Narampanawe Nandarathana Thera will be able to show the people the correct path they should tread, through this research centre, the Governor emphasised.

The Head of the Research Centre Ven. Narampanawe Nandarathana Thera and the Deputy Minister W.B. Ekanayake also spoke.

The Assistant Director of Pirivena Education Ven. Mudagammana Atthadassi Thera, Ven. Kallanchiye Ratanasiri Thera, Ven. Warakagoda Soratha Thera, Ven. Godamune Pannaseeha Thera, Provincial Co-operative Minister H.B. Semasinghe and many others were present.