Launch of Sinhala translations of Swami Vivekananda’s books 

Minister of Water Supply and Drainage and Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardena in the presence of High Commissioner of India Ashok K. Kantha launched the Sinhala translations of the books titled ‘Fables and Other Stories’ by Paramahansa Ramakrishna, ‘Education,’ by Swami Vivekananda and ‘The Biography of Shri Ramakrishna’.

The books were launched at an event organised by the Indian Cultural Centre in association with the Ramakrishna Mission, Colombo, at BMICH on 30 April 2013, to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the great Indian philosopher and philanthropist.

The first copies of the books were received from the Minister by A.A. Kingsley, the Principal of Waisakha Vidyalaya, the oldest school in south Colombo.

In his address, the Minister remarked that India and Sri Lanka were close to each other not only geographically but culturally as well for centuries, and perhaps this was the reason for Swami Vivekananda’s visit to Sri Lanka.  He recalled the famous speech of Swami Vivekananda delivered at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago which made a tremendous impact individually and collectively. He said Sri Lanka was proud to have been part of his spiritual journey and ascendance to fame.

He noted that Dhamma was eternal and urged for re-introducing and re-integrating into the society the preaching of Swami Vivekananda, who through his valiant efforts had tried to purify the society through his wisdom based on theology.

Referring to the teachings of many eminent religious scholars and philosophers from India, the Minister emphasised that religion was a means of racial amity, a unifying force among the people and not meant to antagonize each other in the society. He also referred to several seminal books written by Swami Vivekananda including a book written by him after his visit to Sri Lanka in 1897 titled ‘Colombo to Almora’ and thanked the Ramakrishna Mission for publishing the books in Sinhala language, which he said would be a valuable treasure for the younger generation in Sri Lanka.

In his remarks, High Commissioner Kantha highlighted the decision taken by the Governments of India and Sri Lanka at the eighth Joint Commission meeting to celebrate the 150th birth anniversaries of Swami Vivekananda and Anagarika Dharmapala in 2013 and 2014 respectively. High Commissioner Kantha recalled the great role played by the two contemporary visionaries, Swami Vivekananda and Anagarika Dharamapala, who had together participated in the World Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893 representing South Asia, and helped rejuvenate interest in Vedanta philosophy and Buddhism.

He recalled the special links of Swami Vivekananda with Sri Lanka, which he had visited thrice and travelled extensively across the island during his main visit in 1897. High Commissioner Kantha also highlighted the core ideals of Swami Vivekananda such as religious universalism and ideas of service to the people, rejection of ritualism, sectarianism, bigotry and fanaticism. 

He further stated that Vivekananda was one of India’s earliest cultural ambassadors who propagated Indian philosophy, thought and culture to the outside world. On this special occasion, the High Commissioner announced that the Government of India, as part of the activities to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, would provide assistance to Ramakrishna Mission in setting up of a Swami Vivekananda Welfare Centre at Kilinochchi.

In his introduction of the books, Swami Sarvarupananda from the Ramakrishna Mission said that great spiritual leaders had transformed the lives of many people and their teachings were a beacon of light benefitting others spiritually and morally. He said that Swami Vivekananda gave his message to all, in terms of the healing touch of love, compassion and service. He noted that the books published in Sinhala by the Mission had enough food for thought for the humblest beginner in religion all the way to the loftiest philosopher.

The program commenced with lighting of the oil lamp, followed by Vedic chanting by the Ramakrishna Mission religious school children.