The British High Commissioner in Colombo Dr. Peter Hayes who called on the Mahanayake of the Malawatte Chapter Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Siddhartha Sri Sumangala Thera said the leadership of the Mahanayake Thera given to the Buddhist population in the country is important in these times of peace.
The Mahanayake Thera told the British High Commissioner that the Maha Sangha treats all with equality whether he be a Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim or of any other community as they belong to one country.
These comments were made by the Mahanayake in reply to a questions posed by the British High Commissioner who paid his respects to the Mahanayake.
Dr. Hayes also asked the Mahanayake as to the future of the country as the Mahanayake saw it. In reply, the Mahanayaka Thera said, one cannot foresee the future, that he was confident that most problems could be solved in the country in the right direction in the years to come.
The Mahanayake also said that the Maha Sangha had worked in the North and East even during Tsunami days and that there were foreigners who had come to the Malwatta Maha Vihare to learn Buddhism and some have reached their doctorates and are now in Australian Universities.
The Thera also said one classic example is the Foreign Bhikku Nayaponika Thera who resided in Udawattekele and where he had written over one hundred books on Buddhism.
Dr Peter Hayes said that there is a growing demand in the United Kingdom for Buddhism and Meditation and though the number is small, yet there is a growing demand.
He also said that in the course of a conversation with the Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, he had been informed of the International Buddhist Centre and the foreign students who come there.
Dr. Peter Hayes in a lighter mood said he was delayed in coming to meet the Mahanayake due to train delay and had to wait until the Prime Minister moved out after his visit to the Mahanayake.
The Mahanayake presented Dr. Hayes with a brass tray and a miniature Traditional Lamp.
In presenting the miniature Traditional Brass Lamp, the Mahanayake in a lighter mood said that it is a Lamp that he could keep on a mantlepiece and the originals are heavy. Dr. Hayes commented that he had been lighting Traditional Lamps ever since he came to Sri Lanka.
Source : http://www.dailymirror.lk
