Sri Lankan Buddhist monk begins fast unto death demanding clean drinking water

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Colombo, Sri Lanka -- A Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka has begun a fast unto death on Tuesday demanding the government to provide clean drinking water to the residents in an area in Gampaha district.

The chief incumbent of the Galoluwa Buddhist Temple, the venerable Siridhamma Thero has launched the fast as a last measure after the discussions held with the government officials failed to resolve the issue of contaminated water.

The monk and the area residents say that the water in the area is contaminated with the effluents from a glove factory in the area and demand the government to close the factory.

Venerable Siridhamma Thero had said that he and the public representatives held talks with the government officials to resolve the issue but the talks weren't successful.

He has requested the police to ensure security for the area residents and maintain law and order during his fast.

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Sri Lankan President visits China's Lingguang Buddhist Temple

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Colombo, Sri Lanka -- Beijing: President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Wikaramasinghe Rajapaksa, along with members of the Sri Lankan delegation, visited the Lingguang Buddhist Temple located on the outskirts of Beijing Monday.

The chief incumbent most venerable Chang Zang and fellow monks welcomed the President, the First Lady and the delegation, and invoked blessings.

The temple, which was established 1,200 years ago, has become a center for Buddhist pilgrims because of the Buddha tooth relic that it houses. The only other recognized tooth relic of the Buddha is located in the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic) in Sri Lanka. The tooth relic at the Lingguang Temple had first been taken to what is now Pakistan after the passing of the Buddha before it was brought to China.

President Rajapaksa donated a gold-plated Buddha statue to the temple when he visited China in 2007.

Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Ministers Wimal Weerawansa and Douglas Devananda, Parliamentarians A.H.M. Azwer and Namal Rajapaksa, Chief-of-Staff Gamini Senarath and Sri Lanka's Ambassador in China Ranjith Uyangoda were also present.

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Sri Lankan Buddhist Monk under attack in Tamil Nadu

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Chennai, India -- A Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka - Ven. Gnanaloka Thero (46) had been with a group of 18 students comprising Indian, Myanmar and other nationals who was in Thanjavur for academic research, bore the brunt of the latest wave of anti-Lanka protests that has gripped the State lately.

<< The Buddhist monk Gnana Tero being confronted in Thanjavur on Saturday

Police rescued Ven. Gnanaloka Thero safely and the other students had been escorted to immediate safety at the Police Station and arrangements had been made for all the students including the Sri Lankan monk to leave Thanjavur immediately and depart to the Trichy airport under police protection. From Tiruchy, he boarded a flight to Chennai before leaving for New Delhi.

Police who rescued the monk in time and safely transported him to Tiruchy Airport on Saturday, around 2 pm with heavy security, but, MDMK men pelted stones at the vehicle ferrying the monk and when the vehicle neared G-Corner. From Tiruchy, he boarded a flight to Chennai before leaving for New Delhi.

Ven Gnanaloka Thero who is pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology of India has been studying in India in New Delhi for the past 18 months and has visited several Indian states on study tour.

The Buddhist monk, Gnana Tero (46), reached Thanjavur Big Temple on Saturday, and was learning about the archeological pattern of the iconic temple.

Members of some Tamil outfits reached there and, all of a sudden, Tamil Desiya Pothu Udamai Katchi district organiser P Rajendran and Naam Tamilar Katchi state organiser A Nalladurai assaulted the monk.

A police team led by Superintendent T S Anbu rushed to the scene and arrested Rajendran, Nalladurai and 9 others.

The Sri Lanka Deputy High Commissioner’s Office in Chennai and the Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi made immediate arrangements for the safe return of Ven. Gnanaloka Thero to New Delhi last evening and Ven.Thero will continue with the course of study in New Delhi .

The incident has received immediate attention at the highest levels of the Government of India and the state government of Tamil Nadu.

Police have registered a case in Ariyamangalam and have arrested 5 persons belonging to the MDMK (Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) and the NTK (Naam Tamilar Katchi) in connection with the incident.

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Thousands raised at Sri Lankan themed fundraiser

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Harrow, UK -- Over 200 people attended a Sri Lankan fundraising night on 9th February, held in the Zoroastrian Centre. Almost £2000 was raised for the Mayor of Harrow’s chosen charity Age UK Harrow.

<< Credit: Dermot Carlin
 
The Mayor of Harrow was entertained with dancers & dhol drummers. The Mayor was welcomed by the Sri Lankan Community where he was garlanded and the Mayoress was handed a flower basket.
They sang the British National Anthem and the Mayor gave a speech. A traditional Sri Lankan feast and a raffle were enjoyed by all.
The Mayor of Harrow, Councillor Nizam Ismail, said: “I’m so pleased that so many people from all communities came together to help raise money at the fundraiser. Age UK Harrow aims to improve later life for everyone and offers fantastic information and advice, so it really is a very worthy cause.”

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Thousands of Buddhist monks protest construction of mosque in Sri Lankan town

About 2,000 protesters, including 300 monks, waiving Buddhist flags and shouting slogans on Friday marched from the Dambulla town to the mosque at Kandalama a few kilometers away.

The police intervened as protestors entered the mosque and asked the devotees to leave after Friday prayers ended.

Local administrative officials has said the construction of the mosque was illegal and its removal would be done starting next Monday.

However, the worshippers claim that the mosque has been there for decades and is legal.

The protest came as a powerful leading Buddhist monk blamed the authorities for allegedly selling lands within the sacred Buddhist zone of Dambulla to non-Buddhist elements.

The authorities denied the charge. A similar protest in the area in 1992 couldn't prevent the construction of a five star hotel at Kandalama.

The hotel remains a leading eco tourism location in the island. About 7 per cent of Sri Lanka's 20 million people are Muslims.

About 74 per cent are Sinhalese, who are mostly Buddhists, while about 18 per cent are Tamils, who are predominantly Hindus or Christians.

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Millions of Sri Lankan devotees pay homage to sacred Buddhist relics

These sacred relics were sent by the Government of Pakistan on the special request of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, during the visit of President Asif Ali Zardari to Sri Lanka. In addition to the millions of devotees the President, the Prime Minister, Speaker of Sri Lankan Parliament, several Parliamentarians and other prominent personalities paid homage to the sacred relics of Lord Buddha during the exposition.

The sacred relics brought from Pakistan to Sri Lanka were taken back to Pakistan on Monday after the conclusion of the exposition of these sacred relics in Sri Lanka, according to a message received here from Colombo.

These relics included the sacred relics of the Lord Buddha, Kanishka Relic Casket from Shah-Ji-Ki-Deheri, stone reliquary in Stupa shape and a Golden Casket.

The exposition of the sacred relics was declared open by the President of Sri Lanka on June 4 at Maligakanda temple in Colombo where these sacred relics stayed for a period of four days from June 5 to 9, 2011 and over 300,000 people paid homage to these relics every day at the Maligakanda temple.

These relics were then taken to the Gangaramaya temple Hunupitiya where they stayed for public exposition for three days from June 10 to 12, during which over 350,000 devotees visited these relics every day.

On June 13, the sacred relics were taken to Tissamaharama temple in Hambantota to mark celebration of Poson Poya day on June 15. The sacred relics remained at Tissamaharama temple for a period of three days where they were visited by over a million devotees.

On June 17, the sacred relics were brought back to Colombo at Mahamewna Asapuwa Malabe from June 16 to 19, where they were kept in the inner chamber of the newly constructed stupa for sanctifying and conferring the blessing of the said sacred relics on the stupa and as a lasting testimony to this blessed event, this stupa was named as ?Siri Gauthama Dharmarajika Stupa?.

There after the sacred relics were exhibited at Mahamewuna Asapuwa, Malabe until June 19.

The exhibition of the sacred relics in Sri Lanka has further strengthened the already existing deep rooted cultural relations between the two friendly nations as it has marked the 2600th Year of the attainment of Enlightenment of Lord Buddha. Buddhism left a monumental and rich legacy of art and architecture in Pakistan.

Despite the vagaries of centuries, the Gandhara region preserved a lot of the heritage in craft and art. Much of this legacy is visible even today in Pakistan.

The Gandhara civilization was not only the centre of spiritual influence but also the cradle of the world famous Gandhara culture, art and learning. It was from these centers that a unique art of sculpture originated which is known as Gandhara Art all over the world.

Today the Gandhara sculptures occupy a prominent place in the museums of England, France, Germany, USA, Japan, Korea, China, India and Afghanistan, together with many private collections world over, as well as a vast collection in the museums of Pakistan.

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