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| Sunday, 3 February 2002 |
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Big plans for Independence Day celebrations in Chennai by M.N. Ameen and Don Asoka Wijewardena The Sri Lanka Mahabodhi Society (SLMS) in Chennai, India, will celebrate the 54th anniversary of the Independence of Sri Lanka on a grand scale, this year with the assistance of the TEC Sri Lanka,in Chennai on February 4. The significance of this year's celebrations will be the ordination of 30 Tamil children from India and the commencement of teaching Tamil language to Sri Lankan monks residing in Chennai. At a press conference, SLMS Chairman, Ven. Banagala Upatissa Nayake Thera, said that the SLMS was striving to foster communal harmony,which was indeed vital at the moment. The Thera said that the Independence Day celebrations organised in Chennai would be a landmark and it would pave the way to resolve many problems over the ongoing war in Sri Lanka,which had killed nearly 60,000 people so far. The Thera said that this historical event would be an impetus to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's peace process and the SLMS would strongly support it to restore friendly ties between the Tamil and Sinhala people. "The SLMS in Chennai used to celebrate Sri Lanka's Independence day every year, but this is the first time it is held on such a grand scale with the participation of almost all religious dignitaries and people from different denominations irrespective of caste,creed or religion," the Thera said. Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister,Ravi Karunanayake,said that the SLMS was an organisation which had contributed immensely for the uplift of Buddhism throughout the country by disseminating information on Buddhism. The minister said that the events to be held in India, especially in Tamil Nadu, would dispel misconceptions among the Tamils and Sinhalese great extent and strengthen unity and harmony among them. Kotte Sri Kalyana Temple Deputy Chief Incumbent, Ven. Dr. Ithapane Dhamalankara Thera, said that about one-and-half lakhs of Sri Lankans were residing in Tamil Nadu, of which half that comprised Buddhists,who had mastered the Tamil language. The Sri Lanka Mahabodhi Society in Sri Lanka and in Chennai were endeavouring to forge friendly relations between the Tamils and Sinhalese and expressed optimism over the peace process initiated by the UNF government. 'Our main objective over the Independence Day celebrations in Chennai was to restore peace so that it would help resolve the ethnic crisis,' the Thera said. TEC Sri Lanka chairman,Ranjan Nanayakkara, said that for over 2 decades TEC Sri Lanka had always supported important religious and cultural events organised by different organisations.He said that unity and mutual friendship between Tamils and Sinhalese were vital for the development and well-being of any country and this was indeed paramount to end the ethnic crisis. |
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