President stresses importance of spreading Theravada Buddhism to the world
A ceremony, organized by the Buddhist television and radio channels, was held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena to illuminate the premises of historical Gal Viharaya in Polonnaruwa on August 06.
Many meritorious ceremonies were held at Solosmasthana (16 sacred places in Sri Lanka) in this regard.
President Maithripala Sirisena, speaking on this occasion, stressed the importance of making Sri Lanka a centre to spread the message of Theravada Buddhism to the world. He said the modern information technological tools could be used for spreading the Theravada Buddhism to the international community. President Sirisena expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Maha Sangha for their contribution in making this event success.
Many charitable programmes including a Buddha puja with 108 rice varieties cooked from toxin free rice and 1008 curry varieties, alms giving for 100,000 devotees who observed sil, distribution of dry ration and medicine to kidney patients and pregnant mothers and school equipment distribution were organized in parallel to this.
Offering of Atapirikara to 5,000 Bhikkhus, paying floral tribute to Kiri Vehera and offering of herbal medicine to Gal Viharaya were also held during the ceremony.
A Pahan Pooja was also organized by using 84,000 lamps with scented oils.
The illuminations at Kiri Vehera was switched on by President Maithripala Sirisena amidst the chanting of Seth Pirith by the Maha Sangha and later he was engaged in religious observances.
A CD which contained a song on splendor of city of Polonnaruwa by Dr Praneeth Abhayasundara, President of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress and a special felicitation book by Chief Incumbent of Solosmasthana ,Most Venerable Vedaruwe Upali Thera was presented to the President.
Later, the President visited the Gal Viharaya premises and paid homage and joined in listening to the Dhamma sermon. He also joined in distributing equipment necessary for Piriven of the Polonnaruwa district.
The Maha Sangha of the Tri-Nikaya including the Mahanayaka of the Ramanna Maha Nikaya, Most Venerable Napana Premasiri Thera, Chief Incumbent of Solosmasthana,Most Venerable Vedaruwe Upali Thera, Most Venerable Anamaduwe Dhammadassi Thera, , Most Venerable Daranagama Kusala Dhamma Nayake Thera and many devotees participated in this event.
(President’s Media)
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before sisrisena goes about spreading theravada budhhism globally he should focus on getting his people in the government of hyprocrites, cynics and lunatics to accept the basic tenants of buddhism ……..right …..ofcourse iam right.
remember the old story of how gamarala ascended the heaven by tagging onto the tail of an elephant whom he beleived it to be celestial
What a carry on. Why don’t he leave and be a Buddhist monk. Always in a temple doing all kind of silly things as he has nothing better to do.
Well, Ranil is calling all the shots. Minister of Foreign Affairs always contradicts with the President of Sri Lanka. Actually, Hon. Sirisena performing a ceremonial function. Now he has become PR man in the YP government. Yes, Zama charity begins from your own house. Before spreading Therawada Buddhism clean your own house. Protect Therawada religious places such as Kuragal, Muhudu Maha Viharaya & Devanagala in your own backyard.
There is hardly any reason as to draw a distinction between the Theravada and the Mahayana sects of Buddhism here in Sri Lanka. We should speak of Buddhism in its pristine glory as preached by Lord Buddha. Our leader perhaps is trying to butter the backs of the saffron robed clergy (Theravada ) to gain popularity among the Buddhist majority and thus increase his vote bank.
Every day from morning to night you see this Buddhist programs on Tele and Radio. The president and the Prime minister live in temples. Every time I see them they carry white flowers or kneeling down in front of a priest, So did the former president and his relatives. The people talk about and willing to die for Buddhism. They observe “sil “as well.
My question is do they live their life at least for the minimum requirement needed to call them self Buddhist.
Country with corruption, deception, fraud, and most the former goverment parliamentarians are in prison for such things , trying to teach Buddhism to the world in my opinion is hypocritical.