Anagarika Dharmapala, an icon of Buddhist renaissance

by Kandy Sp. Cor.

The name of Anagarika Dhammapala is immemorial and his service to the Buddha Sasanaya is unsurpassable and incomparable, said senior Deputy Mahanayake of Malwatta Chapter, delivering the 105th Annual Commemoration of Anagarika Dhammapala held in the premises of Sri Dalada Maligawa, by the statue of Anagarika Dhammapala. Annunayaka there said, he faced challenges fearlessly. If not for his determination, he would not have gone to India and fought hard to have Buddhagaya saved.

Statues and stupas were broken, only to be used for other purposes. His voice heard all over the Buddhist countries helped avert the disaster.