Will mediate to make Tripitaka World Heritage: President

Mahanayakas of Buddhist nikayas commend the services rendered by President Sirisena for propagation of Buddha sasanaya.

President Maithripala Sirisena said that he has made the Tripitaka as a national heritage and he will work towards declaring it as a World Heritage.

The President also said that he will continue to mediate in making the Tripitaka as a World Heritage.

The national ceremony to officially proclaim the sacred Tripitaka as a national heritage for thousands of years was held at the historic Aluvihara temple in Matale with the blessings of the Most Venerable Maha Sangha and under the patronage of the President on saturday.

The Maha Sangha expressed gratitude and blessed the President for the historic achievement of proclaiming the Tripitaka as a national heritage.

Anunayaka of the Malwathu Maha Vihara of the Shyamopali Maha Nikaya Ven. Niyangoda Vijithasiri Thero made a special discourse at the ceremony yesterday. The Maha Sangha stated that the great work done by the President to the Buddha Sasana was praised by the Maha Sangha.

In an era where dharma is distorted, the task that the President performed, during his term, is a noble cause, said the Chief Incumbent of the Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Nikaya Aggamaha Panditha Ven. Kotugoda Dhammawasa Thero.

The Mahanayake Thero also praised the President’s great noble deed to name the national hero of the 1818 rebellion and to include them as patriotic national titles in the National Heroic List, removing them from the Colonial list of traitors.

Addressing the celebration at Aluvihara temple, the President further stated that this historic task will save the Tripitaka from distorted interpretations and provide legal protection. From here, no one is allowed to use the translation, conversion, or misuse of the Tripitaka or issue any text without approval from the Government. Now, the Tripitaka can be translated and edited only by a statutory academic council. In this way, the Government intervened to prevent any attempt to damage or distort the Tripitaka, the President said.

Through securing the Tripitaka, its transparency is assured and it has been properly established in accordance with Buddhist tradition to understand the word of the Buddha, said the President. The President added that with the expectations and the guidance of Mahasangha he has come to this decision with heartfelt respect and love for the Buddhist order. He added that he considers this a great privilege for him to accomplish this virtuous deed within his tenure and gain merits, said the President.

President Sirisena who went to historical Matale Aluvihara temple unveiled the commemoration plaque and marked the declaration of the Tripitaka in written form as a national heritage.

The declaration of Tripitaka in written form was officially presented to Mahanayake at the event.

Chief Incumbent of Aloka Vihara Ven. Dr. Inamaluwe Nandarathana Thero presented the Ola leaf manuscript that composes Dhamma Chakka Pawaththana Sutra as a special token of appreciation.

 

• A collection of articles were presented to the President
• A postal stamp was issued to mark this historical event and it was presented to the Mahasangha by the President.

The Mahanayake Thero of the Asgiriya Mahavihara of the Shyamopali Maha Nikaya Ven. Warakagoda Gnanarathana Thero, Anunayake of the Malwathu Chapter of the Shyamopali Maha Nikaya Ven. Niyangoda Vijithasiri Anunayake Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Amarapura Maha Nikaya Most Ven. Aggamaha Panditha Kotugoda Dhammawasa Maha Nayaka Thero and thousands of Maha Sangha who came with their greetings from the whole country and Buddha Sasana Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera and ministers, governors, public servants and a large number of people also participated in this ceremony.