Dharmapala-Olcott foundation conference Colombo east group corr.
The Dharmapala-Olcott Memorial International Research Foundation of Lanka held its 8th annual conference and the 5th awards ceremony at the National Library Service Board auditorium, Colombo 7, last Saturday presided over by its patron, Ven. Dr. Pandit Naravila Dhammadassi, Head of Saraswathie Pirivena, Balagalla.
In a brief address he outlined the contribution the Foundation has made to intellectual awakening in Lanka in the short 8 year period of its existence. One of its functions has been to offer to the world the endeavour of Anagarika Dharmapala to examine Buddhism in comparison with other leading religions of the world. The Foundation's health research unit, recently, provided Dambe in Polpitigama, Kurunegala with 36 water tanks to collect rain water. The dwellers of Dambe were faced with a severe dehydration condition leading to disease. When no state or private organisation came to their aid it was the Foundation that saved their lives. The Foundation opened Lanka's first Knowledge Resource Bank in July 2001 and it has made considerable progress, he said.
Ven. Galle Udita Nayaka Thera, Sanghapathi of Singapore was the first to receive an award when he was conferred a PhD for Philosophy, and LLD was conferred on the eminent scholar of law, Advocate Vijaya Niranjan Perera, for his analysis of 'The PR System of Elections in Lanka' and 'The Executive Presidency - Sri Lankan Dilemma', a D.Litt was conferred on lawyer Neil Wijeratne for his contribution to the development of Sports Literature in Lanka, Vidyakeerthi on Lecturer Hemachandra Ranatunga, eminent mathematician, Dr. A. M. G. A. Arlis was conferred a Professorship of Mathematics, Kalakeerthi on Dr. of Astrology, Hemapala Pathirana, a Doctorate of Banking Economics on C. A. Sarathchandra, Dr. of Science on D. M. J. B. Dassanayake, Dr. of Mathematics on W. Ratnayake, Dr. of Sinhala on Siri Nissanka Perera, a Doctorate in English on Mrs. Kalyani Weeraman, Kalakeerthi on S. I. Gamage, a Doctorate in Art Photography on Mahinda Siri Elakumbura Ratnayake.
Prof. Risiman Amarasinghe, Director of the Foundation addressing the distinguished audience said that a nation's progress depended on the intellectual wealth of its inhabitants. History does not show a nation which developed purely on its sports or other non-intellectual activity. There is ample evidence of a nation's failure because of its poor performance in the academic field.
Intellectual progress can be achieved by acquiring knowledge in the fields of languages, arts, sciences and other disciplines, research and using such knowledge practically. Comparing Lanka with other nations, its standard of achievement is poor. The fountain spring of the nation's culture is the Sinhala language, its literature, history, customs, national consciousness and culture itself, of which the modern Sinhala individual has not an iota of knowledge because he has not the urge for such thinking.
Searching meticulously it is not possible to find a person who can write an elucidation to any classical work. Therefore our nation's culture and civilisation is seen to erode. How long this sad state of affairs will last cannot be assessed by its own citizens, concluded the professor.
The book written by Prof. Risiman Amarasinghe titled, 'Munidasa Cumaratunga and Criticism of Poetry' was launched on the occasion.
The Dharmapala-Olcott Memorial International Research Foundation of Lanka held its 8th annual conference and the 5th awards ceremony at the National Library Service Board auditorium, Colombo 7, last Saturday presided over by its patron, Ven. Dr. Pandit Naravila Dhammadassi, Head of Saraswathie Pirivena, Balagalla.
In a brief address he outlined the contribution the Foundation has made to intellectual awakening in Lanka in the short 8 year period of its existence. One of its functions has been to offer to the world the endeavour of Anagarika Dharmapala to examine Buddhism in comparison with other leading religions of the world. The Foundation's health research unit, recently, provided Dambe in Polpitigama, Kurunegala with 36 water tanks to collect rain water. The dwellers of Dambe were faced with a severe dehydration condition leading to disease. When no state or private organisation came to their aid it was the Foundation that saved their lives. The Foundation opened Lanka's first Knowledge Resource Bank in July 2001 and it has made considerable progress, he said.
Ven. Galle Udita Nayaka Thera, Sanghapathi of Singapore was the first to receive an award when he was conferred a PhD for Philosophy, and LLD was conferred on the eminent scholar of law, Advocate Vijaya Niranjan Perera, for his analysis of 'The PR System of Elections in Lanka' and 'The Executive Presidency - Sri Lankan Dilemma', a D.Litt was conferred on lawyer Neil Wijeratne for his contribution to the development of Sports Literature in Lanka, Vidyakeerthi on Lecturer Hemachandra Ranatunga, eminent mathematician, Dr. A. M. G. A. Arlis was conferred a Professorship of Mathematics, Kalakeerthi on Dr. of Astrology, Hemapala Pathirana, a Doctorate of Banking Economics on C. A. Sarathchandra, Dr. of Science on D. M. J. B. Dassanayake, Dr. of Mathematics on W. Ratnayake, Dr. of Sinhala on Siri Nissanka Perera, a Doctorate in English on Mrs. Kalyani Weeraman, Kalakeerthi on S. I. Gamage, a Doctorate in Art Photography on Mahinda Siri Elakumbura Ratnayake.
Prof. Risiman Amarasinghe, Director of the Foundation addressing the distinguished audience said that a nation's progress depended on the intellectual wealth of its inhabitants. History does not show a nation which developed purely on its sports or other non-intellectual activity. There is ample evidence of a nation's failure because of its poor performance in the academic field.
Intellectual progress can be achieved by acquiring knowledge in the fields of languages, arts, sciences and other disciplines, research and using such knowledge practically. Comparing Lanka with other nations, its standard of achievement is poor. The fountain spring of the nation's culture is the Sinhala language, its literature, history, customs, national consciousness and culture itself, of which the modern Sinhala individual has not an iota of knowledge because he has not the urge for such thinking.
Searching meticulously it is not possible to find a person who can write an elucidation to any classical work. Therefore our nation's culture and civilisation is seen to erode. How long this sad state of affairs will last cannot be assessed by its own citizens, concluded the professor.
The book written by Prof. Risiman Amarasinghe titled, 'Munidasa Cumaratunga and Criticism of Poetry' was launched on the occasion.
