<< Artist’s impression of the new Wisma Dharma Cakra

Chief high priest of Malaysia Venerable Datuk K. Sri Dhammaratana said new classrooms were needed to replace the container classrooms at the rooftop of Wisma Dharma Cakra.

“With the current hot weather, the container classrooms are not conducive to have lessons and water also seeps inside when it rains.

“We also want to add counselling rooms for our volunteers to continue with our socio-welfare work,” he told StarMetro during an interview at the temple in Brickfields.

The expansion project will also include a meditation pavilion that provides a tranquil environment to relax and cultivate mindfulness as well as the installation of passenger lifts for the elderly and disabled when they attend classes.

Dhammaratana said the project cost was estimated at RM8mil.

“We started our fund raising efforts five years ago through various activities and programmes such as charity lunches and donation programmes but we are still short of RM5mil as the cost of construction materials has increased over the years.

“We decided to start work at the end of the year and raise more funds as we go on.

“Currently, the students are temporarily having their lessons at the Global Indian International School, Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

BISDS started in 1929 with just 12 children studying under the Bodhi tree.

Today, 87 years on and with about 1,200 students attending Sunday school, space is a huge problem to accommodate the numbers.

The BISDS fundraising dinner 2016 on July 31 at 7pm, will take place at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH), 1, Jalan Maharajalela, Kampung Attap, Kuala Lumpur.

Highlights of the dinner include a performance by comedian Douglas Lim, an auction of four black and white landscapes photographs by Eric Peris as well as lucky draw for attendees.

Tickets are priced from RM2,000 to RM20,000 per table.

For details, call 03-22741141.