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Anamaduwa’s rural kids receive their ‘enlightenment’ under trees
View(s):Children from a number of villages in Anamaduwa, including the village of Paramakande, have had no building for a daham pasala, for years. Their religious education is under the shade of a tree or inside a highly unsafe and derelict building.
Parents complain that it is the lack of proper classrooms that compels children from the villages of Paramakande, Ihala Divulwewa, Pahala Divulwewa, Dasanaike-pura and Wadakkra-wewa to attend classes in this dangerous building for over five years.
Daham pasala head teacher, H.M. Herath Jayawardena said that, though this institution is affiliated to the Paramakande Raja Maha Vihara temple, the temple lacks a building to conduct classes.
Despite these shortcomings, daham pasala teachers have been providing invaluable service. Every Sunday, nearly 60 students gather here for spiritual guidance.
The teachers say that, though the Paramakande Raja Maha Vihara’s chief incumbent has given a plot of land, no authorities have to date agreed to provide a building.
Daham pasala deputy head teacher, Lasantha Waduge said that parents are eager to provide their children with religious education because “everyone knows that the social situation everywhere is degenerating.” “Without religious education what will become of these children? We don’t want more murderers, thugs and drug addicts. That is why we are braving all these hardships to provide them with spiritual guidance.”
Akila Suseema, a student of the daham pasala, said that they had no permanent place to learn.
“One day it would be under a tree. Another day inside this tumbledown building. All our pleas so far have been of no avail. We only want a building in which we can safely receive our (religious) education.” When the Anamaduwa District Secretary, Jayasiri Tennakoon was contacted, he said he was aware of the situation. “Though I tried to set up a building many issues sprang up.”
He said he will work towards providing a building soon.
- Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe