|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Thursday, 14 October 2004 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
by Chamikara Weerasinghe Senior lecturers of Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies at Sri Jayawardenapura University, yesterday announced the establishment of a Buddhist organisation by them, which will be known as the Federation of Sri Lanka Sasana, to protect and nurture the Buddha Sasana in Sri Lanka. Explaining the objectives, founder member of the federation and lecturer of the Sri Jayawardenapura University Ven. Magammana Pannananda categorically stated at the federation's maiden press conference held at Dharma Vijaya Foundation Hall at Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7 that their principal concern was to promote the Buddhist discipline in the country which seemed to have disappeared mainly due to prolonged neglect and lack of understanding by both laymen and Bhikkhus. Ven. Pannananda Thera said they did not have anything to do with the practice or teachings of other schools of religion for they believe it was more important for the Buddhists to correct themselves than to go on correcting others. Explaining how they would act towards other religions , The Thera said: "We will exercise the Buddhist way of tolerance to other religions." "The need for establishing the Federation was felt by us on considering the extent to which the Buddhist Vinaya or discipline has been damaged," he said, " It was not prompted by activities of other religious faiths which were said to have been campaigning against Buddhism." "Nevertheless, it was far from our practice to attack other religions to place ours on a high pedestal. We simply want the Buddhist public to gather round to live their lives according to the Buddha's teachings as against the vulgar practice of looking down upon other religions with envy," he said. The federation is also looking forward to protect and nurture old Buddhistic traditions while resolving internal problems which appeared to have taken place in the Sasana owing to lack of understanding, he said. The head of Department , Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies at Jayawardeapura University, Senior Lecturer K. A. Weerasena, Senior lecturer Ven. Prof Meegoda Pannaloka Thera, and Ven. Dr. Kivulegedara Narada Thera also spoke on this occasion. Shasthrapathi Ven. Kinchigune Dhamminda Thera, Ven. Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera and Kalashuri Sathischandra Edirisighe were also present as founder members of the federation. The Federation of Sri Lanka Sasana will hold its first national conference in December, 2004 where they will select office bearers for the federation. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
