National Buddhist Think Tank meets under patronage of President

The National Buddhist Think Tank held a meeting under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday.

Members of the Maha Sangha who represents the National Buddhist Think Tank, including Ven. Prof. Kotapola Rahula Anu Nayake Thero, Ven. Professor Gallalle Sumanasiri Thero, Ven. Dr. Akuratiye Nanda Thero, took part in this meeting. The progress made by the National Buddhist Think Tank was discussed at length at the meeting and the Maha Sangha thanked the President for properly implementing the decisions taken at the National Buddhist Think Tank convention.

The President expressed his appreciation of the progress achieved in the Piriven education field during the recent past. The Maha Sangha apprised the President that all the preparations that have been made to establish a training centre to train Piriven teachers. Attention was also drawn to further promoting Sri Lanka as a Buddhist Education Centre. The development of required facilities in this regard was also discussed in addition to the issuance of visas to foreign students who come to study at higher educational institutions.

Recruiting teachers for religious education also came up in the discussions. The publishing of the Buddha Jayanti Tripitaka series on the internet, after editing it by an Advisory Board appointed by the Maha Nayaka Theros, the preservation of puskola poth (ancient books made of ola leaves) and upgrading of the educational institutions of the female monks as Piriven were also taken up.

Secretary, Ministry of Buddha Sasana Chandraprema Gamage, Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs Nimal Kotawalagedara and officials of the Education Ministry participated on this meeting.