Spiritual guidance from the Buddhist clergy for the government's programme, as well as the support provided to strengthen good values within society, is a very valuable contribution, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said.
The Prime Minister said this while participating in the function held on August 15 to mark the conferment of the Chief Prelate position of the Shyamopali Vanavasa Cahpter upon Chief Incumbent of the Waturawila Vanavasa Sangha Headquarters and Director of Sri Gnanananda Vanavasa Maha Pirivena, most Venerable Mahakande Rathapala Thera.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said:
“The mission fulfilled by most Venerable Mahakande Rathapala Thera over nearly six decades for the Vanavasa tradition, Sasana education, and the continuous survival of the Sambuddha Sasana is extremely valuable. The Chief Prelate position conferred upon his venerable self is a great honour for that Sasana mission. The lifestyle led by forest-dwelling monks in coexistence and restraint with nature, as well as the simplicity, restraint, discipline, and responsibility about the future expressed through the living tradition of monastery-dwelling monks, is a very important example in this journey of modernising a country.
Today, as a country, we move forward not only by building new things. We do so by renewing what we have, and preparing the environment necessary for people to build a better life. We are experiencing this change now, from modernising the transport sector and introducing metro services to modernising every sector including health and education.
What we hope to build as a country is not only a richer country, but a beautiful life with a better, more sensitive, and more responsible society. For that, while new technology, new infrastructure, and new economic opportunities are necessary, the human qualities necessary to use them correctly must also develop within us.
Likewise, I wish to recall that the spiritual guidance received from you venerable theras as the Maha Sangha for the efforts we take as a government in this journey, and the support provided to strengthen good values within society, is a very valuable strength to us.
The task of renewing a country does not end with a government alone. Protecting the new facilities, new systems, and new opportunities being built, using them responsibly, developing them further, and handing them over to future generations is the responsibility of everyone.”
Most Venerable Niyangoda Vijithasiri Thera, Deputy Chief Prelate of the Malwatta Chapter of the Siamopali Maha Nikaya of the Maha Vihara Lineage and Chancellor of the Yakkala Wickramarachchi Institute of Indigenous Medicine, and Venerable Narampanawa Ananda Nayaka Thera, Master of Arts, Deputy Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter of the Siamopali Maha Nikaya of the Maha Vihara Lineage and Chancellor of the Kelaniya University, along with venerable Buddhist clergy attended the occasion.
Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Gamagedara Dissanayake, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, Galle District Member of Parliament Nishantha Perera, and guests and lay devotees participated.
The Prime Minister said this while participating in the function held on August 15 to mark the conferment of the Chief Prelate position of the Shyamopali Vanavasa Cahpter upon Chief Incumbent of the Waturawila Vanavasa Sangha Headquarters and Director of Sri Gnanananda Vanavasa Maha Pirivena, most Venerable Mahakande Rathapala Thera.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said:
“The mission fulfilled by most Venerable Mahakande Rathapala Thera over nearly six decades for the Vanavasa tradition, Sasana education, and the continuous survival of the Sambuddha Sasana is extremely valuable. The Chief Prelate position conferred upon his venerable self is a great honour for that Sasana mission. The lifestyle led by forest-dwelling monks in coexistence and restraint with nature, as well as the simplicity, restraint, discipline, and responsibility about the future expressed through the living tradition of monastery-dwelling monks, is a very important example in this journey of modernising a country.
Today, as a country, we move forward not only by building new things. We do so by renewing what we have, and preparing the environment necessary for people to build a better life. We are experiencing this change now, from modernising the transport sector and introducing metro services to modernising every sector including health and education.
What we hope to build as a country is not only a richer country, but a beautiful life with a better, more sensitive, and more responsible society. For that, while new technology, new infrastructure, and new economic opportunities are necessary, the human qualities necessary to use them correctly must also develop within us.
Likewise, I wish to recall that the spiritual guidance received from you venerable theras as the Maha Sangha for the efforts we take as a government in this journey, and the support provided to strengthen good values within society, is a very valuable strength to us.
The task of renewing a country does not end with a government alone. Protecting the new facilities, new systems, and new opportunities being built, using them responsibly, developing them further, and handing them over to future generations is the responsibility of everyone.”
Most Venerable Niyangoda Vijithasiri Thera, Deputy Chief Prelate of the Malwatta Chapter of the Siamopali Maha Nikaya of the Maha Vihara Lineage and Chancellor of the Yakkala Wickramarachchi Institute of Indigenous Medicine, and Venerable Narampanawa Ananda Nayaka Thera, Master of Arts, Deputy Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter of the Siamopali Maha Nikaya of the Maha Vihara Lineage and Chancellor of the Kelaniya University, along with venerable Buddhist clergy attended the occasion.
Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Gamagedara Dissanayake, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, Galle District Member of Parliament Nishantha Perera, and guests and lay devotees participated.
