PRE-HISTORIC LANKA TO UNITED SRI LANKA-Sociological revelation
Posted on July 22nd, 2020
By.Dr.Sripali Vaiamon
Hon. Gotabaya Rajapaksa is a very religious conscious kind personality.I saw recently He has gone to UDAMALUWA OF SRI MAHA BODHIYA, ANURADHAPURA and keeping askance of his face on the Bo brach with leaning his head on it in most sentimental devotion. I fully realized he is ideally matching the great Indian King Dhrmasoka who offered us the BUDDHISM to Sri Lanka, through his son, MAHINDA and daughter SANGAMMITTHA and treated every other religion as of his own by propagating through Edicts.
It reminds me I have published so many extracts relevant to his philosophy and activities by Buddhist philosophers in my VIEWS ON BUDDHISM, parts one to three and also about Mr.Rajapaksa’s experiences and activities on the 28th Oct. just prior to his electionof the new post in the LANKA WEB as it will provide some help for voters.Our President with his brother was fully involved in terrorist settlement until the end of the war which went of for 25 years. For the information of others I will republish that short description from my book ,PRE-HISTORIC LANKA TO END OF TERRORISM,PUBLISHED IN 2012.TRAFFORD PUBLISHERS,USA.
MOST OF THE COUNTRY PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE THAT THE DEFENCE SECRETARY ,WHO IS A TOWER OF STRENGTH TO THE PRESIDENT ,(MAHINDA)WAS APPOINTED TO THE POST NOT MERELY BECAUSE HE IS PRESIDENT’S BROTHER BUT HE IS A HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND HAVE LENGTHY EXPERIENCE ON THE FUNCTIONS OF DEFENCE STRATEGY.
HE WAS A LIEUTENANT COLNEL OF THE SRI LANKA ARMY.HE JOINED THE ARMY IN 1971. HE HAS SERVED IN THE SINHA REGIMENT,RAJARATA RIFLES,GAJABA REGIMENT AND VIJAYABAHU INFANTARY REGIMENT .HE SERVED IN THE BATTLE FRONT OF VADAMARACHCHI IN 1987.HE HAD MILITARY TRAINING IN RAWALIPINDI AND QUETTA, IN PAKISTAN,JUNGLE WARFARE IN ASSAM,INDIA.FOLLOWED A COMMAND AND STAFF COURSE AT DEFENCE SERVICE STAFF COLLEGE IN WELLINGTON.ADVANCE INFANTARY OFFICERS’COURSE IN FORT BENNINGTON, USA. HE HAS RECEIVED AWARDS FROM M/S J.R.JAYAWARDANA,RANASINGHE PREMADASA AND D.B.WIJETUNGA.
Such a person was never appointed to the post of the Defence Secretary earlier.The abominable war is now over so he has been added with another massive task,’the urban development.’
Relevant involvements and experiences I clearly explained perhaps may be useful for present context too. It was something similer to what Dharmasoka regained after the final war,the war at KALINGA. It was at the Kalinga war he dropped all his armaments and ordered his battalion to drop all their weapons. When he returned to the Palace and seated melancholy he saw on the road a saint type young priest walking, he commanded a soldier to summon the priest.When he arrived at the Palace king inquired and learnt he is novice NIGRODA.On request He preached pleasant discourse APPAMADA VAGGA from DAMMAPADA and the king was fully comprehended!Therafter the king became a saint like personality.Changed his name as DHARMA-SOKHA- Earlier it was Chandasoka . He thereafter engaged in maritorias activities immensely.This has well elaborated by Prof.LILY DE SILVA IN my BODU MATHI MATHANTARA,RELEASED BY Rev.KIRAMA Wimalajothi thera,Buddhist Cultural centre,dehiwala.
SANGAMITTA BROUGHT THE BODHI SAPLING
D.C.WIJEWARDANA IN P.49-THE REVOLT IN THE TEMPLE.
Sanghamitta THERI,THE SISTER OF MAHINDA THERO,followed her brother to Ceylon that she might establish THE ORDER OF THE BHIKKUNIS in lanka. She braught with her a branch of the sacred Bo-tree,under which Gauthama had attained Enlightemment.
The branch ,received by Tissa himself,was planted with great pomp and ceremony at ANURADAPURA and still flourished there.It is the oldest historical tree in the world,and object of profound veneration to million of Buddhists throughout the world.To this tree,the symbol of gratitude,Anuradapura,through all its vicissitudes of countries,owes its escape from the oblivion which has other mighty cities elsewhere.
Within two centuries Buddhism spread into every inhabited part of the Island.
DEVANAM PIYATISSA GUARDED THE botree.
Devanam Piyatissa is reported to have assumed the role of a gate-keeper for 3 days to honour the Bodhi Tree.immediately it was braught to Ceylon.
p.63-ocial History of Ceylon-Dr.Hema Ellawala.
ASOKA AFTER THE WAR.—Legends of Indian Buddhism ——by.Eugene Burnouf–
The warrior who had spreaddevastation and murder throughout India began to engages in works of peace,in making roads,in digging of wells and planting trees,in establishing charities and providing for their business like distribution.Many were the great monasteries and temples built by the converted Asoka.Throughout the vast dominionwhich his conquest had added to his original empire of MAGADHA.,on pillers and on rocks he engraved the articles of Buddhist belief.These descriptions are described as edicts.They are the only known contemporary documents for the history of Asoka`s reign and for the study of religion.
On the 12th Sunday ADA carried a pleasant surprise where new look has been given to the MtLavinia beach which highlighted future development quite similer to the PORT CITY and the 100 projects almost completed duringthe past tenure of the former President with which contry people could have fiture HOPES.– From –sripaliv@gmail.com