A major international conference titled “Wisdom in Motion: Buddhist Heritage, Global Unity and the AI Frontier” will be held in Ottawa on May 9, underscoring Canada’s growing recognition of Buddhist heritage and the link between ancient wisdom and modern technology.
The event will be held alongside a special honours ceremony recognising contributions to Buddhist heritage, global unity, and the ethical future of artificial intelligence, with a Sri Lankan-Canadian visionary at its centre. Organisers say the initiative aims to bridge cultural traditions with emerging global technological conversations.
The conference will bring together global participants through a virtual keynote via Zoom, with segments also streamed on YouTube, enabling wider international engagement and accessibility.
The event coincides with Ottawa’s official proclamation of May 2026 as Buddhist Heritage Month, making it the first capital city to formally recognise the occasion. The declaration was issued by Mark Sutcliffe under the theme “Building a Universal Sense of Belonging Together.”
A highlight of the May 9 programme will be the recognition of Visita Sirin Leelaratna, founder of Vesak in Ottawa and Buddhist Embassy Canada, for his decade-long efforts in promoting Buddhist heritage across Canada at municipal, provincial and federal levels.
Leelaratna is also leading national petition e-6893, sponsored by Member of Parliament Jenna Sudds, which has attracted over 3,100 verified signatures seeking permanent federal recognition of Buddhist Heritage Month.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has also acknowledged Buddhist Heritage Month, highlighting its importance in recognising the cultural and social contributions of Buddhist communities across the country.
The May 9 keynote will explore how the timeless teachings of compassion, mindfulness and ethical living can guide humanity in an era shaped by rapid advances in artificial intelligence.
For Sri Lankans worldwide, the Ottawa event marks a moment of pride, reflecting how the island’s rich Buddhist heritage continues to influence global conversations on ethics, unity and the future of humanity, while strengthening cultural diplomacy.
Participation in the May 9 event is open to the public from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM (EST – Ottawa) via Zoom. Those interested can join using the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6135005000?pwd=Hw66qHdxfJQOnjPD6kTPh0biBGKpgb.1
The Meeting ID is 613 500 5000 and the Passcode is 8BHBZh.
Pictures: Sri Lankan-Canadian Visita Leelaratna with Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Isabelle Martin (top left); Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe with the framed Buddhist Heritage Month proclamation (top right); Nisal Ariyaratne, Global Buddhist Heritage Youth Ambassador, in Canada (bottom left); and Abbot Zhao Xu of Prajna Temple, Toronto (bottom right).
