‘ANCL renders yeoman service for uplift of Buddhism’

The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL) renders a yeoman service for the uplift of Buddhism in the country, General Manager Abhaya Amaradasa said on Friday.

“The institution started the Mihintale Aloka Pooja in 1963 to illuminate the place where Buddhism was brought”, he said.

Amaradasa was speaking at the inauguration of the third day of the Amadahara Vesak Zone organised by ANCL in association with Sri Lanka Telecom.

TV Derana and FM Derana were the electronic media partners.

ANCL Chairman and Managing Director Bandula Padmakumara, Chief Enterprise and Wholesale Officer of Sri Lanka Telecom Kiththi Perera, General Manager, Corporate Relations of SLT Roshan Fernando and ANCL Legal and Administration Director Rasanga Harischandra and Vijith Chandrasena, Director Operations, TV Derana inaugurated the Amadahara Vesak Zone on the third day.

The first three winners of the Vesak lantern competition received prizes from ANCL Chairman and Managing Director Bandula Padmakumara and Enterprise and Wholesale Officer of Sri Lanka Telecom Kiththi Perera. K. Mahindalal of Angoda who was placed first, was awarded Rs. 250,000 and a certificate. A.K. Sampath Dayanga of Dagonnawatta and T.A. Danushka Sampath of Dehiwala, Attidiya who secured the second and third places received Rs. 150,000 and Rs. 100,000 and certificates.

The winners who secured the fourth to 15th places also received prizes and certificates.

Amaradasa said Budusarana was the first weekly paper dedicated to Buddhism.

“A number of new newspapers have been published to cater to all levels of society under the guidance of the Chairman and veteran media personality Bandula Padmkumara”, he said.

The General Manager added that Aloka Udapadhi and Budu Suwada are among these publications which educate Dhamma schoolchildren.

“In addition to the Dinamina Vesak Kalapaya, we publish three more publications dedicated to Buddhism”, he said.

Amaradasa said the ANCL management decided to hold a lantern competition in view of Vesak Full Moon Day opposite the Lake House premises in the 1990s in a small way and this competition continued every year adding more features.

This is the oldest Vesak Zone in Colombo city. A team of judges headed by Jayasiri Semage selected the winners.

ANCL senior management including Company Secretary Kumudu Gunawardena and senior officials of Sri Lanka Telecom and TV Derana were present.