Dinamina Vesak Kalapaya launched
 

BY ANJANA Gamage

THE latest edition of the Dinamina Vesak Kalapaya published by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd was launched yesterday at the Sambuddhaloka Temple in Fort.

The first copy was presented to Minister of Buddhasasana Ratnasiri Wickramanayake by ANCL Chairman Janadasa Peiris.

The event was presided by Chief Incumbent of Colombo\Chilaw areas and the Vice Chancellor of Kelaniya University Ven. Welamitiyawe Kusaladhamma Thera.

Pansil was administered by Ven. Arama Dhammathilake Thera.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman Peries said: "The Dinamina Vesak Kalapaya which was launched 73 years ago in 1933 has taken the lead to herald in a revival in Buddhism.

The founder of Lake House D.R. Wijewardene never thought of earning money by publishing this Vesak edition. It was a precious gift of Buddhism. Therefore the present ANCL administration also decided to sell it at a low rate of Rs. 50.00 unlike the previous administration which priced each copy at Rs.150."

The edition has valuable articles on Buddhism, Philosophy and Buddhist Civilisation. Six thousand copies are available for sale.

The Chairman said that as an institution, Lake-House always comes forward to take part in Buddhist activities and this year also the organisation has taken steps to hold the Vesak Festival on a grand scale by establishing a special zone called Ama Dahara Vesak Sadaham Kalapaya with the participation of other government and private sector institutions.

The chief incumbent of Sambuddhaloka Temple, Ven. Ittademaliye Indrasara Thera said: "We can't fix a price for religion. The content in a religious book is priceless. D.R. Wijewardene understood the requirement of this kind of edition very well.

He started the Dinamina Vesak Kalapaya as a booklet to uplift the country's religious, traditional and cultural values. Therefore the importance of publishing these editions should be understood by the heads of the institution and it is their responsibility too".

Director Editorial Prof. Gamini Keerawella said Lake House is an institution which always renders a national service.

"We have a rich cultural heritage. We can't do anything without a culture. A country should always have a cultural revival for its development," he said.

Ven. Welamitiyawe Kusaladhamma Thera addressing the gathering said: "The word Dinamina was first produced at the Vidyalankara Pirivena. This is how it happened. There was a newspaper in the name of Sandaresa sometime ago.

D.R. Wijewardene wanted to start a new Sinhala paper against the Sandaresa. He made his requirement to Ven. Rathmalane Darmarama Thera. The Ven. Thera then came with a sudden reply : "Sandresata" viruddha "Dinamina". This is how the Dinamina name was produced at Vidyalankara Pirivena", he said.

The editor of Dinamina Vesak Kalapaya Ranjith L. Abeywickrama made the vote of thanks.

General Manager of Lake House Abhaya Amaradasa, Company Secretary Kumudu Gunawardena, Director Development Sarath Cooray, Editorial Consultant Karunarathne Paranavithana and Prof. Sunanda Mahendra also participated.