Lake House launches Budhu-Sadhu, Muthu Ahura

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional District group correspondent

The launching of Budhu-Sadhu, Dhamma School Newspaper and the fourth edition of monthly news journal “Muthu Ahura”, both Lake House publications, were held on June 1 at Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi premises in Anuradhapura.

Lake House Chairman and Managing Director Bandula Padmakumara was the chief guest at the launching ceremony.

Lake House Chairman and Managing Director Bandula Padmakumara presenting one of the journals to the Maha Sangha.

A section of the dhamma school students. Pictures by Amila Prabath Wanasinghe

ANCL Chairman accompanied by Lake House Directors - Upul Dissanayake, Rasanga Harischandra, General Manager Abhaya Amaradasa and Sales Manager Sunil Sendanayake, paid a courtesy call on Atamasthanadhipathi Venerable Pallegama Sirinivasa Nayake Thera at the Bo maluwa temple and received his blessings, following the offering of Atapirikara and the copies of the Budhu-Sadhu and Muthu Ahura to the Nayaka Thera.

The Maha Sangha headed by Ruwanweli Chetiyaramadhipathi Ven Pallegama Hemarathana and Chief Incumbent of Lankarama Temple, Ven Ralapanawe Dhammajothi Nayaka Theras, chanted seth pirith and performed religious observances at the foot of the Sacred Sri Maha Bodhi to invoke blessings of the sacred Bodhi tree and deities for the launching of the new journals and the Lake House staff, including the Chairman and the executives who were present.

In his Anusasana, Lankarama Temple Chief Incumbent Ven Ralapanawe Dhammajothi Nayaka Thera emphasized that the media could destroy the country and the nation as well as guide the country towards prosperity and making the people spiritually advanced.

He pointed out that Lake House has showcased its great ambition to create a righteous society through the Budhusarana newspaper. “The world's greatest and noblest media personnel was the Buddha. He ushered the bhikkhus to preach dhamma to the society and salvage people from evil. Also Arahath Mahinda Thera used media to communicate with King Dewanampiyatissa to make the country non-violant and spiritually advanced.

As such, the efforts of the Lake House founded by the late D. R. Wijewardene to promote Dhamma in the country, specially among the child population, is admirable and appreciative,” Rathnajothi Thera emphasized.

He said, as the media men helped immensely to win the war against terrorism having gone to the battlefield in person, they would contribute to mould a law-abiding and righteous generation through media as the Lake House has been doing.

Ruwanweli Chetiyaramadhipathi Ven Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera said the launching of the Budhu Sadhu Dhamma Newspaper and the monthly journal Muthu Ahura which was a brainchild of Lake House Chairman Bandula Padmakumara, was a great attempt to give refuge of Dhamma to the children.

At a time when there were some media which gave prominence to the news items of commercial value in place of the information of spiritual and social value, Lake House has set an example to the country about the promotion of spiritual and essential values doing away with opportunism, the thera emphasized.

After the launching ceremony, Lake House Chairman and his entourage visited the Anuradhapura Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Temple, where they paid homage to Chief Incumbent Venerable Nugethenne Pagnananda Nayaka Thera.

Chairman Bandula Padmakumara personally handed over copies of Budhu Sadhu and Muthu Ahura to the Dhamma school students and the teachers at the Jayanthi Dhamma School.

The Nayaka Thera emphasized that the country was blessed with a leader who embraced the earth of the motherland at the victory over brutal terrorism.

He requested the Lake House Chairman to dedicate more to mould such patriotic and righteous citizens through its media.

Chairman Bandula Padmakumara said the Lake House was continuing the yeoman service started by its founder, D R Wijewardene.

He said for the 51st consecutive year the Lake House Aloka Pooja would be implemented and the Dhamma voyage of Budhusarana religious newspaper was promoting the Buddha Sasana.

“We printed 500,000 Budhusarana copies for Vesak. The Chairman pledged that the Lake House would dedicatedly assist the Maha Sangha to protect the Buddha Sasana continuously.

Deputy General Managers Waruna Mallawarachchi, Narada Sumanaratna and V. S. Bois were also present.