Search Buddhist Channel

Home > Asia Pacific > South Asia > Sri Lanka

Safeguarding Sri Lanka's heritage

by Walter DAYARATHNE, Lanka Daily News, Nov 12, 2007

Colombo, Sri Lanka -- "Safeguarding our archaeology, in effect is unearthing our buried history. Its trustees are none other than our Maha Sangha. It is our duty to entrust them with the responsibility of giving vision to the nation", said North Central Province Governor Karunaratna Divulgane.

The Governor was speaking at the ceremony held at Anuradhapura Buddha Shrawaka Bhikkhu University to award certificates to those who completed a six-month training course on preservation of archaeological heritage conducted by the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress (ACBC) under the supervision of the Department of Archaeology, the Archaeologists’ Society organised the event.

Participants were administered Pansil by Anuradhapura Atamasthanadhpathi Ven. Dr. Pallegama Siriniwasa Thera.

Governor Divulgane said, “Excavation of artefacts covered by earth and their protection lay in the hands of the Maha Sangha who are also responsible for creating Buddhist religious worship centres islandwide.”

He said at that time there was a strong Bhikkhu force behind King Dutugemunu. During the SLFP leader SWRD Bandaranaike, thera were widely respected Buddhist prelates like Ven. Henpitagedara Gnanaseeha Thera.

The Governor said what lies buried under this soil is a prouder nation than that of the living today.

If excavation activities are properly carried out in the inner city of Anuradhapura, it would come to light that even in pre-Buddhist era, before 6th century B.C., there had been a proud civilisation and history in Sri Lanka. Shiran Deraniyagala’s Researcher had revealed this fact.

He said Ven. Wariyapola Sumangala Thera gave leadership to rebellion of 1818. President Mahinda Rajapaksa too faced the Presidential Election with a formidable force of Maha Sangha behind him.

Chairman ACBC, Jagath Sumathipala, Archaeological Director Prof. T.G. Kulathunga, Co-ordinating Secretary Tilak Serasinghe and Joint Secretary Sunil Sarath Kuregama also spoke.
We Need Your Help to Train the
Buddhist AI Chat Bot NORBU!
(Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding)


For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your name in the payment slip. Thank you.

Dear Friends in the Dharma,

We seek your generous support to help us train NORBU, the word's first Buddhist AI Chat Bot.

Here are some ways you can contribute to this noble cause:

One-time Donation or Loan: A single contribution, regardless of its size, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal and make the Buddhist LLM a beacon of wisdom for all.

How will your donation / loan be used? Download the NORBU White Paper for details.


For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your purpose of payment (loan or donation) in the payment slip. Thank you.

Once payment is banked in, please send the payment slip via email to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv. Your donation/loan will be published and publicly acknowledged on the Buddhist Channel.

Spread the Word: Share this initiative with your friends, family and fellow Dharma enthusiasts. Join "Friends of Norbu" at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norbuchatbot. Together, we can build a stronger community and create a positive impact on a global scale.

Volunteer: If you possess expertise in AI, natural language processing, Dharma knowledge in terms of Buddhist sutras in various languages or related fields, and wish to lend your skills, please contact us. Your knowledge and passion could be invaluable to our project's success.

Your support is part of a collective effort to preserve and disseminate the profound teachings of Buddhism. By contributing to the NORBU, you become a "virtual Bodhisattva" to make Buddhist wisdom more accessible to seekers worldwide.

Thank you for helping to make NORBU a wise and compassionate Buddhist Chatbot!

May you be blessed with inner peace and wisdom,

With deepest gratitude,

Kooi F. Lim
On behalf of The Buddhist Channel Team


Note: To date, we have received the following contributions for NORBU:
US$ 75 from Gary Gach (Loan)
US$ 50 from Chong Sim Keong
MYR 300 from Wilson Tee
MYR 500 from Lim Yan Pok
MYR 50 from Oon Yeoh
MYR 200 from Ooi Poh Tin
MYR 300 from Lai Swee Pin
MYR 100 from Ong Hooi Sian
MYR 1,000 from Fam Sin Nin
MYR 500 from Oh teik Bin
MYR 300 from Yeoh Ai Guat
MYR 300 from Yong Lily
MYR 50 from Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
MYR 1,000 from Chiam Swee Ann
MYR 1,000 from Lye Veei Chiew
MYR 1,000 from Por Yong Tong
MYR 80 from Lee Wai Yee
MYR 500 from Pek Chee Hen
MYR 300 from Hor Tuck Loon
MYR 1,000 from Wise Payments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
MYR 200 from Teo Yen Hua
MYR 500 from Ng Wee Keat
MYR 10,000 from Chang Quai Hung, Jackie (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from K. C. Lim & Agnes (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from Juin & Jooky Tan (Loan)
MYR 100 from Poh Boon Fong (on behalf of SXI Buddhist Students Society)
MYR 10,000 from Fam Shan-Shan (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from John Fam (Loan)
MYR 500 from Phang Cheng Kar
MYR 100 from Lee Suat Yee
MYR 500 from Teo Chwee Hoon (on behalf of Lai Siow Kee)
MYR 200 from Mak Yuen Chau

We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.

If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv

The Buddhist Channel © 2023 All Rights Reserved

TOP