Buddhist site in Pakistan ransacked; relics stolen

PTI, July 2, 2005

Islamabad, Pakistan -- A Buddhist site near the north western Pakistani town of Mardan was ransacked by unidentified people, who took away a number of relics, including statues and iron tools.

Historical laxity: Buddhist sites in state of neglect

Newind Press, July 1 2005

RAJAHMUNDRY, India -- India is a country which often fails to respect its historical heritage. Take the case of the various centuries-old Buddhist sites in East Godavari district, rich in tourism potential, which are in a state of dismal neglect.

Stolen statue of Buddhist monk recovered

IANS, June 30, 2005

Raipur, India -- A stone statue of a 6th century Buddhist female monk, stolen from a Chhattisgarh Buddhist centre last week, has been recovered from a village where people were worshipping it in the belief that it was an idol of goddess Parvati.

Repression of Buddhism in Sri Lanka by Portuguese

By Senaka Weeraratna, The Buddhist Channel (Abridged version), June 28, 2005

Colombo, Sri Lanka -- The Portuguese landed in Colombo in 1505. Within a few years of their arrival they were able to establish permanent trading settlements and then indulge in a game of intrigue and blackmail with the various rulers and minor chiefs of the country.

There may not be another Dalai Lama

by Vir Sanghvi, Hindustan Times, June 20, 2005

New Delhi, India -- Will there ever be another Dalai Lama? Traditionally, the spiritual leadership of the Tibetan people passes from one Dalai Lama to his reincarnation. But the current Dalai Lama has raised questions about whether the institution should continue. He may, he says, be the last Dalai Lama.

Foreign Bhikkus in Sri Lanka to participate in Poson Festival

ColomboPage News Desk, June 20, 2005

Colombo, Sri Lanka -- Buddhist monks and laymen from several countries arrived this morning at the Bandaranaike International Airport to participate in religious ceremonies connected with the Poson Poya.

Stupa stupor

by VRINDA GOPINATH, The Indian Express, June 18, 2005

The Great Sanchi Stupa gets less than 80,000 visitors a year. Little information, no souvenirs and few places to spend the night make the experience shortlived

SANCHI, India -- It is perhaps the world?s best kept secret. Such a secret, that the Great Sanchi Stupa, dating back to the third century BC, gets less than 80,000 visitors a year. An overwhelming number, 64,000 of them, are Indian. Most of the 14,000 foreigners are Sri Lankan Buddhist monks.

Dalai Lama Greets Aung San Suu Kyi on Her Birthday

Democratic Voice of Burma, June 18, 2005

Dharmsala, India -- Exiled Tibet spiritual leader His Highness Dalai Lama told DVB, on 15 June, that He is always praying for Burma's democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and He prays that she would be released soon.

What is happening to the millions donated for tsunami survivors?

By Catherine Philp, The Times (UK), June 18, 2005

Many thousands are still forced to live in temporary camps in Sri Lanksa thanks to official incompetence and bureaucracy

Colombo, Sri Lanka -- SARINA crouches in her tent in the devastated fishing town of Hambantota, sorting through the few children?s clothes that survived the tsunami. Outside the rain begins to fall and with a sigh she pulls down the flaps to stop the water leaking inside.

Warm response from over a thousand Buddhist monks to President at BMICH

Lanka Daily News, June 18, 2005

Colombo, Sri Lanka -- PRESIDENT Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga received a warm response from over a thousand Buddhists monks, as she spelled out contents of the proposed Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS) at the Maha Sangha convention at the BMICH last night.