<b>New "Sinhala Mahawamsa" dedicated to God Vishnu at Kande Vihara</b>

The Island -Bentota Corr.

The Mahawamsa is the proud record of the Sinhala Nation, going back to over 2,500 years with uninterrupted written history by several historians from time to time. No other nation in the world could boast of such continuity. The great work contains nearly 10,000 Pali stanzas. There is a Sinhala version in verse, too.

The "Sarala Sinhala Mahavamsaya" (Mahavamsa in simple Sinhala) written by Siripala Wettamuni, the author of over fifteen books to his credit, gives a gist of the voluminous Mahavamsa to the light reading public, who have no time to devote to go through the original or the translations, in the face of complex day-to-day problems, observed Professor Bandusena Gunasekera introducing the book at the ceremonial function held at Kande Vihara, Aluthgama on 13th July, 2002.

The great chronicle, Mahavamsa deals with the wars of the country, its rulers, the economy, architecture, art, culture, ethics Buddhist - doctrine and the lifestyle of the people. But history is distorted by scheming element to erode the patriotism of the people through brain-washing for selfish motives.

The whole nation should be grateful to the author for producing the book at a time when the Sinhala nation was fast losing its national identity, he added.

Ven. Dr. Meegoda Pannaloka Thero of Sri Jayawardena University speaking from the chair remarked that with the removal of history and literature from the school curriculam the children lack the sense of culture and heritage and had become a stranded lot. Although the Sinhala rulers conveniently forget the history of the land, the British rulers were interested in it at least for the sake of "divide and rule" theory they adopted. In 1837 George Turner had translated a good part of the Mahavamsa into English for the use of the British.

It was however sad to note that the main character in the Mahavamsa, - King Dutugemunu and illustrious saints of Buddhism have been under estimated and ridiculed by the current electronic media and sing-song groups, which paved the way to erase off from the minds, the admiration of the national heroes and spiritual peronalities from the younger generation.

He also referred to some governmental as well as non governmental organization, who were making subtle manipulations to destroy the national culture and heritage. In the circumstances, the attempt of the author was an eye-opener for the nation to be alive to its interessts. He also mentioned that Yagirala Pannananda Nayaka Thero, a great scholar of the area too had translated a volume of Mahawamsa into Sinhalese.

Baddegama Sumana Nayaka Thero, Chief Incumbent, Pujarama Vihara, Pothupitiya, Wadduwa, said he had the occasion to visit Jaffna recently, where the condition was alarming under the LTTE, which had gained much ground after the signing of the MoU. The security forces stationed there were helpless and disappointed at the rate of anti national operations conducted by the LTTE, under the very nose of the govt. security forces, with little regard.

He also said that according to the Mahavamsa the country had been enstrusted to God Vishnu for protection and as the deity occupied a prominent place at Kande Vihara too he prayed to the God to save the motherland from the bloody terrorists. The head of Kande Vihara, Ksitrarama Pirivena, Ven. Yatadolawatte Ariyawansa Thero, in his welcome speech said that the vihara was always open for national, religious and educational activities in the interests of the country.

Sunil Hewage said the British Civil Servant Rhyees Davids, inspired by Buddhism when he learnt the Pali language for administrative purposes from Dharmarama Maha Thero of Vanawasa Vihara, Bentota, became a Buddhist and inaugurated the Pali Text Society in England, which propagated Buddhism in Europe, with relevance to Mahawamsa.

The author Siripala Wettamuni said Mahavamsa was the title deed of the Sinhala nation, with the pedigree coming down from period to period. Referring to the Sansoni Commission appointed by late President J. R. Jayewardene over the racial riots, in 1987, lawyers based their arguments on the propriety of the Konneswaram Temple on the facts quoted from Mahavamsa successfully.

The new book was dedicated to God Vishnus statue at Kande Vihara, carrying it, placed on a decorated elephant in a solemn procession and later presented to the Chief Incumbent of Kande Vihara, Rev. Batuvanhene Buddharakkitha Nayaka Thero, who praised the work as timely and laudable. Rev. Dr. Thalawe Sangharatana Thero and Marapana Wijitha Nayaka Thero also participated.

Courtesy - The Island