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‘Buddhism’s Response to COVID 19 Pandemic’
International Buddhist Conference 2020
The National Council for International Affairs of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress (ACBC) has organized the International Buddhist Conference on November 7 and 8 from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm Sri Lanka time via zoom, the organizers announced.
The theme of the Conference will be “Buddhism’s Response to COVID 19 Pandemic” and the Anusasana at the Inauguration of the Conference on November 7 at 2.00 pm was delivered by Most Ven Prof Kotapitiye Rahula Anunayaka Thero of the Kotte Srikalyani Samagreedhamma Maha Sangha Sabha & Main Secretary, Professor Pali and Buddhist Studies Division, Peradeniya University. The Government of Burma awarded the highest Honorary Degree “Aggamahapanditha” award to Ven Anunanyake Thero recently.
The welcome address was delivered by Prof Lakshman R. Watawala, Chairman, National Council for International Affairs of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress (ACBC) and Vice President ACBC. Thereafter, the President of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress and Vice President of the World Federation of Buddhists Jagath Sumathipala will deliver his address.
The first Session on Buddha’s Teachings to overcome COVID – 19 Pandemic was chaired by Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, PC, Judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. This session covered three presentations relating to the topic.
The first presentation on the Rathana Suthraya – A discourse to overcome disasters was delivered by Ven Prof Medagampitiye Wijithadhamma Thero, Prof of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
The next was on the Girimananda Suthraya – Ten perceptions for Healing of Suffering delivered by Prof. Sumanapala Galmangoda, Course Coordinator, Dean, Faculty of Buddhist Therapeutic Systems of Medicine, Dean Faculty of Graduate Studies, Chief Medical Officer, Buddhist ?yurvedic Counseling and Psychiatry, N?g?nanda Teaching Hospital.
The final presentation Coping with Pandemic and Overcoming Suffering from a Buddhist Perspective was delivered by Dr Tavivat Puntarigvivat Visiting Professor at the Thai Studies Program, Pridi Banomyong International College, Thammasat University in Bangkok on a research study undertaken by him.
Thereafter, a panel discussion followed moderated by Prof. Chandima Wijebandara, former Vice Chancellor, University of Sri Jayewadenepura.
The panelists were Dr. Rathnasiri Rathnayaka, Senior Lecturer, Department of Buddhist Thought Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Kelaniya, Dr, Praneeth Abeysundera, Senior Lecturer of Sociology and Anthropology, Sri Jayewardenepura University, Past President All Ceylon Buddhist Congress, Ven. Senior Prof. Uturawela Dhammaratana Thero, Department of Pali, Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka, Ven. Vajiraramaye Nanasiha Thero, Patron Servants of the Buddha, Bhante Mahinda Founder and Spiritual Director of the Aloka Foundation, Malaysia.
He is also the abbot of the Aloka Meditation Centre in Australia, founder and Spiritual Director of the Australian Buddhist Mission, Inc. and Ven. Halayale Wimalarathana Thera, President of the International Buddhist Foundation (IBF), Geneva, Switzerland.
On the second day – November 8, the conference will be held via zoom from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm
The theme of Session 2. is Right Mindfulness and Meditation the Buddhist Way to Overcome Covid -19 Pandemic.
This session will be chaired by Deepal Sooriarachchi, Mindfulness Teacher, Post Graduate Institute of Management University of Sri Jayewardenepura, who will introduce the theme of the session.
The Keynote Address on Right Mindfulness the Buddhist Way to overcome COVID -19 Pandemic will be delivered by Most. Ven. Dhammajiva Maha Thero, Chief Meditation Master, Meetirigala Nissarana Vanaya.
The next address on the Power of Meditation to relieve stress, strain and increase resilience – Neuropsychiatric perspective will be delivered by Dr. Kumari Galboda, Consultant Psychiatrist in Old Age Psychiatry, Essex Partnership University, NHS Foundation Trust, Rochford Hospital, Essex, UK
The third address on The Four Noble Truths and Noble Eightfold Path – Liberation from Suffering will be delivered by Ven. Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thero, Head London Buddhist Vihara and Chief Sanganayaka Great Britain.
The final address will be delivered on Right Mindfulness – A Buddhist survival kit in the pandemic by Ajahn Sujato Co-founder, Suttacentral.net Sydney.
This will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Nalaka Hewamadduma, Educator and Author, Mental Skills development. The panelists will comprise: Ven. Panadure Chandraratne Thero, Deputy Abbot, Meethirigala Nissarana Vanaya, Meetirigala, Rev. Dr. Bhante Saranapala – The Urban Buddhist Monk, Founder and President “Canada A Mindful and Kind Nation”, West End Buddhist Temple & Meditation Centre, Mississauga, Canada, Dr. Sumana Ratnayaka, Retired Senior Lecturer, Pali & Buddhist Studies, University of Peradeniya (studied at Kelaniya, Uppsala, Oxford, Lund and Peradeniya Universities).
She holds a doctorate on the subject of Mindfulness: An exploratory study of the Buddhist Meditation in Sri Lanka and is currently resident in Lund, Sweden, Ven. Rathanapala Mahawela. Asst. Lecturer. Pali & Buddhist Studies University of Peradeniya and Dr. Sunil Kariyakarawana, Buddhist Advisor to Her Majesty’s British Armed Services.
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PCoI on Easter Sunday attacks:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC is not bound by recommendations made by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (P CoI) into the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage, or presidential directives in that regard, according to authoritative sources.
They said that the AG couldn’t under any circumstances initiate legal proceedings until he had received the full PCoI report.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa received the PCoI report on Feb 1. The President’s Office delivered a set of PCoI reports to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Feb 23, a day after the report was presented to the cabinet of ministers. The Island raised the matter with relevant authorities in the wake of a section of the media reporting the PCoI recommending punitive measures against former President Maithripala Sirisena, Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, IGP Pujitha Jayasundera, Chief of State Intelligence Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena, Chief of National Intelligence retired DIG Sisira Mendis and All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader and Samagi Jana Balavegaya MP Rishad Bathiudeen et al over the Easter Sunday carnage.
Sources pointed out that due to the inordinate delay in sharing the PCoI report with the AG, the department hadn’t been able to take preliminary measures required to initiate the proceedings. Sources said that a team of officers would take at least six weeks or more to examine the report before tangible measures could be taken.
With the AG scheduled to retire on May 24, 2021, even if the AG Department received the P CoI it would be quite a tough task to initiate proceedings ahead of retirement, sources said. However, in terms of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution enacted in last October, both the AG and the IGP could receive extensions beyond 60 at the President’s discretion.
Dappula de Livera received an Acting appointment as the AG a week after the Easter Sunday carnage whereas his predecessor Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, was elevated to Chief Justice.
Responding to another query, sources said that the Attorney General two weeks ago requested Secretary to the President for a copy of the P CoI. However, the AG was yet to receive one, sources said. In spite of the AG not receiving a P CoI copy, the AG had instructed the IGP to obtain a copy of the report when he requested the police to complete investigations into the Easter Sunday carnage. The AG issued specific instructions after having examined police files pertaining to the investigations.
The IGP, too, hadn’t received a copy so far though some sections of the report were in the public domain.
Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage displayed at a live political programme on Derana a copy of the P CoI report he received at the cabinet meeting earlier in the day.
Sources said that the Attorney General’s Department couldn’t decide on a course of action in respect of the Easter carnage on the basis of a section of the report. In terms of the Commission of Inquiry Act (Section 24), the AG enjoyed significant powers/authority in respect of investigations; sources said adding that the Department urgently required both the P CoI report and police investigations report. The Attorney General’s Department has raised the delay in receiving a P CoI report amidst the Catholic Church attacking the government over the same issue.
Sources said that ministerial committee appointed to study the P CoI report couldn’t decide on how to proceed with the recommendations and the matter was entirely in the hands of the AG. Sources pointed out that the delay on the part of the government to release the report had received the attention of sections of the international media, including the New York Times. Public Security Minister retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera having met Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith at the Bishop’s House on Dec 8, 2020 said that the AG would get a copy of the P CoI report once the President received it. Minister Weerasekera said that the CID had handed over the relevant files after having completed investigations into eight blasts. Referring to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) report on the Easter Sunday carnage, the former Navy Chief of Staff said that all such documents would have to be brought to one place and considered before initiating legal proceedings. Acknowledging that there could be delays, lawmaker Weerasekera said that on the instructions of the Attorney General a 12-member team of lawyers was working on the case. The minister vowed to expose the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks. Investigations continued while some of those wanted were overseas, the minister said.
The minister acknowledged that the Attorney General couldn’t proceed without the P CoI report. Minister Weerasekera reiterated that once the President received the P CoI report, it would be sent to the Attorney General. The minister said that there were documents two to three feet high that needed scrutiny. The minister assured comprehensive investigation. The minister said that investigations pertaining to eight blasts had been completed and the reports handed over to the AG. However, the Attorney General had found shortcomings in those investigations.
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By Saman Indrajith
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday bombings had failed to identify the mastermind of , the JVP said yesterday.
Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath said that the PCoI report had levelled accusations against former President Maithripala Sirisena, former IGP and head of intelligence for their dereliction of duty, shirking of responsibilities and not taking action to prevent the attacks and negligence. There were reference to the causes of the terror attacks and actions to be taken to avoid such attacks and the influence of extremist organisations. “However, there is no mention of the mastermind of the attacks, the handlers of the attackers and those whose interests the carnage served. It is also not mentioned whether there has been any foreign or local organisation behind those attacks. As per the PCoI report the attack took place as a result of culmination of extremism.
“According to the PCoI the extremist activities were a result of the prevailing political situation then. The entire nation was waiting to see who was responsible and who masterminded those attacks. The PCoI has failed to identify the true culprits responsible for the terror attacks. The report says that the leader of the suicide cadres killed himself in the attacks and it was a puzzle. That means those who are actually responsible for the attacks are still at large. The report does not provide exact details of the sources of the attacks. The PCoI had sittings for one year and five months. It summoned various persons and got their statements but it has failed to shed any light on the terror attacks. Everybody knows that the top leaders of the government and heads of security and intelligence establishments failed in their duties. Ranil Wickremesinghe was the second in command and he too is bound by the responsibility but the PCoI report fails to identify him as one of the persons against whom legal action should be instituted. The PCoI has treated Wickremesinghe and former President Maithripala Sirisena differently. We are not telling that this report is a total failure but we cannot accept this as a complete report. The PCoI handed over its report to the President on Feb 1. After 23 days it was sent to Parliament. Now, a copy of the report is there in the parliamentary library for the perusal of MPs.”
Herath said that the PCoI did not have powers to take punitive action. “It only has powers to name those responsible and recommend action to be taken against those named.
