Tripitaka declared a National Heritage | Daily News

Tripitaka declared a National Heritage

National ceremony under President’s patronage on Jan.5:

 

Secretary to the President Udaya R.Seneviratne said yesterday the national ceremony to declare the Tripitaka which is the foremost compilation containing the basics in Theravada Buddhist philosophy, as a national heritage of Sri Lanka will be held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at the historic Aluvihare Temple in Matale on January 5.

The Cabinet has already approved the proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena in this regard with the aim of spreading the Buddhist thoughts among the people and thereby trying to establishe a noble society in the country. Accordingly, the Buddha Sasana Ministry was vested with the power to oversee the reprinting of the Thripitakaya and its related matters.

The national ceremony will be held on a grand scale with the participation of over 2000 members of the Maha Sangha. All temples, Buddhist households and public institutions are advised to hoist the Buddhist flags, perform Hewisi Puja (or Sabda Puja) and organising religious activities in parallel with the national ceremony on Janury 5.

He further said the government aims at seek World Heritage recognition to the Tripitaka later with the objective of elevating the Budhist teachings around the world.

Buddha Sasana Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said the government plans to introduce regulations for the publishing of Buddhist books as a number of incidents have been reporting in distorting the Dhamma and misleading Buddhists. All Buddhist publications will hereafter be scrutinised by an eminent panel of intellectuals.

Meanwhile, a Cabinet Paper will be submitted to stop the conducting of tuition classes on Sunday at least until 2 pm and on Poya days. Students belonging to all religions who attend their respective religious schools will be given an additional 10 marks at the Grade Five Scholarship Exam, O/L Exam and A/L Exam.

Pirivenadhipathi of the Vidyodaya Pirivena at Maligakanda, Ven. Balangoda Sobitha Nayaka Thera said that the entire Tripitaka has acquired the distinct form as Sutta Pitaka, Vinaya Pitaka and Abhidhamma Pitaka, was introduced to Sri Lanka by Arahant Mahinda Thera, elder son of Eemperor Asoka. Thereafter, Sri Lankan Buddhist monks launched the mission of protecting the Tripitaka by propagating it from one generation to the other.

During the reign of King Valagamba, that oral teachings of Buddhism, Tripitaka were written into Pali on palm leaves at the Aluvihare Rock Cave Temple in Matale.

In 1955,the government initiated another historic movement for translating this Tripitaka into Sinhala to mark the 2,500 years of the Buddha-Jayanti (that is, 2500 years since the Buddha’s Passing Away).

Secretary to the Samastha Lanka Sasanarakshaka Bala Mandalaya Ven. Gonaduwa Gunananda Thera also participated at the event.


Tripitaka is to be named as a National Heritage13:48

Dharma Sri  Abeyratne

The national ceremony to mark the Thipitaka as a national heritage will be conducted under the Patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday at historic Aluvihara Temple, Matale.
The Tripitaka contains the preaching, preached over 2300 years ago of the Load Buddha. The Tripitaka contains three volumes as Suthra, Vinaya and Abhidarma.
The event will be held with the participation of three Chief Incumbent of three chapters and 1,500 Maha Sanga under state patronage.
As an outcome of the visit, taken place in 3rd century B.C of Arihath Mahinda Thera, Sri Lanka blessed with the Tripitaka.
The Tripitaka was committing into writing on Ola leaves at Aluviharaya Temple, Matale in 1st Century of B.C. during the king Walagamba reign. The Tripitaka, written on Ola leaves was edited and issued in printed form in 1956 in line with the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthiya. 


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