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| Sunday, 23 March 2003 |
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Sri Lankan Thera honoured by Bernard Goonewardena from New York City The president of American-Sri Lanka Buddhist Association and chief incumbent of New York Buddhist Vihara, the Ven. Pandit Kurunegoda Piyatissa nayaka Thera, was honoured by the City of New York recently in the presence of a large gathering of distinguished invitees, who are community leaders of south Asian organizations, businessmen, professionals and other Americans, in the city Council Chamber of New York City. In his introduction of the six distinguished honourees for presentation of awards of recognition, the Comptroller of the City of New York, William C. Thompson Jr., the second highest ranking elected official of the city of New York said that Ven. Piyatissa Thera was honoured for his leadership and contributions to Buddhist misionary work among Buddhists of all nations, and for his contributions to the understanding, respect and harmony among all faiths, which is a mosaic of various nationalities and faiths, and the quality of life in New York City. Upon his arrival in New York City in 1981, the Ven. Piyatissa Thera was elected the first president of the American-Sri Lanka Buddhist Association Inc. in which he continues. The Ven. Piyatissa Thera was also elected vice-president of the World Buddhist Sangha Council representing Buddhist clergy of all Buddhist nations. He is also the founder and President Emeritus of Buddhist Council of New York, also representing all Buddhists of all nations who live in New York City. His leadership and contributions to Buddhist missionary work is too numerous, extending to England and Europe, when he spent 10 years in the London Buddhist Vihara, prior to his arrival in New York City. He has lectured widely in universities in England and Europe. in New York City, he is invited annually to deliver a lecture on Buddhism sponsored by the Universalist Unitarian Church and Columbia University. He is also on the faculty of New School University, a leading university in New York. His proposal to recognize "Vesak Day" as an international religious holiday was co-sponsored by 34 nations and was adopted by the United Nations. The award of this honour by the City of New York to the Ven. Piyatissa Thera is an honour on all Sri Lankans, and other Buddhists of all nations living in New York. Among the other distinguished honourees, who have made contributions to the advancement of quality of life of New York City, or for their outstanding professional achievements were, Mr. Shashi Tharoor, Under-Secretary General for Communications and Public Information of the United Nations, and recipient of Excelsior Award for Excellence in literature and Sukanya Krishan, an Indian born television broadcast journalist. |
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