‘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.

General Manager
Abhaya Amaradasa |
“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.
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