Mahaweli Reach hosts Nepal President Bhandari
Mahaweli Reach Hotel was the host of Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari during her stay in Kandy to grace the closing ceremony of the 14th United Nations International Vesak Day celebrations as its Chief Guest. She was accompanied by Nepal’s General Administration Minister Keshab Kumar Budathoki.
Chugging back on a historic track
“Ceylon Railway Heritage” a book by K.A.D. Nandasena and Vinod Wickremeratne will be launched on Thursday, May 25, at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jaya Mawatha, Colombo commencing at 6.15 p.m. The book is a publication by the National Trust – Sri Lanka, together with the sponsors Browns Group. “Ceylon Railway [...]
Baithulmal Fund at 60: A feat in poverty alleviation
The Ceylon Baithulmal Fund, established in 1957 and incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1976, completes 60 years with an exceptional record of dedicated service to the poor and the needy. CBF was formed on the initiative of the late H.S. Ismail, (the first Muslim Speaker of the House of Representatives) who served as [...]
Dhatu Nidan ceremony
The Samadhi Viharaya at Kirimandala Mawatha in Narahenpita held its Dhatu Nidan ceremony recently at the temple premises. Chief guest Jayanta de Silva, initiator of the Prgna Pradeepa concept and Western Province Councillor is seen here taking part in the ceremony.
Vesak at London Buddhist Viharaya
London Buddhist Vihara, the oldest Buddhist temple in the United Kingdom opened by Anagarika Dharmapala in 1926, observed Vesak last week with religious activities. Pictures show Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner Amari Wijewardene hoisting the Buddhist flag in front of the Vihara to the chanting of Pirith by resident monks and (right) devotees listening to a [...]
Alms for monks, blood donation campaign, Bhakthi Gee and more
Vesak at SL High Commission in Canberra Vesak celebrations at the Sri Lanka High Commission in Canberra commenced on Vesak Full Moon Poya Day (May 10) with alms offered to the resident monks of the Canberra Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihara at the High Commission. On Saturday, May 13 Vesak Bhakthi Gee were presented by the [...]
China’s mega-project linking Asia and Europe
By Somar Wijayadasa From 14 to 15 May, China hosted a high-level forum on international cooperation within the “One-Belt-One-Road” strategy. The forum held in Beijing was attended by leaders of 29 countries, over 1,500 delegates from 130 nations, and representatives from over 70 international organisations including the heads of the United Nations, International Monetary Fund [...]
Return of Rajapaksa era racist politics
Lanka is fast becoming a playground for world powers By Latheef Farook Di.sgusted with Mahinda Rajapaksa regime’s senseless persecution, Sri Lanka’s Muslims as a whole voted for the coalition led by Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe in the hope that they would fulfil their election promise to end racist attacks and usher in an era [...]
Shuffling the pack
May is a very interesting month. To begin with, there are the big tamashas staged on the first of the month, May Day – the International Workers’ Day which was intended to be a day of celebration for the labourers and working classes of the world. May Day was established after the 1904 International Socialist [...]
Ties with Nepal on bedrock of Buddhism and President Bhandari’s visit
By Satharathilaka Banda Atugoda This story begins in present Nepal, in the Sakyan kingdom of Suddhodana. In the most venerable Narada Thera’s comprehensive, lucid work, ‘Manual of Buddhism’, from which we learnt the doctrine for our Senior School Certificate, the opening paragraph, illustrates this, ‘On the full-moon day of May, Vesak, in the year 623 [...]