THE BHIKKHU LIGHT OF LANKA- A historical survey by Mario Perera & Laetitia Buczaczer
Posted on August 28th, 2012
Professor W. S. Karunatillake
It is with great pleasure that I introduce this book to readers here and abroad. Sri Lanka is presently a topic of discussion and debate in the local and foreign media. The misconceptions regarding the country, Buddhism
and the Sangha are many. The authors analyse such views by scouring and elucidating the pages of LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s history. The BhikkhuƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s heritage is identical with that of this country. The Sangha is the creator, sustainer and living force of a unique civilization and culture that embraces all ethnic groups and creeds. It is the only survivor of the ancient trilogy comprising the Monarchy and a glorious hydraulic civilization. History has thus cast on the Sangha the mantle of guardian divinity of the Island and guide. Indeed the Sri Lankan Bhikkhu is the Light of Lanka.
Mario Perera
Mario Perera was the recipient of three foreign scholarships to Italy and France. He posseses a Doctorate Qualifying Degree (DiplƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚´mes dƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢Etudes Approfondies) and two MasterƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Degrees (MaƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚®tre ƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚¨s Lettres) from France, a MasterƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Degree from Rome (S.T.L ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Sacrae Theologiae Licentiatus), a post graduate Diploma for Interpretation and Translation, and the TranslatorƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Diploma (B.T.S.) from France. Mario Perera who completed the Law Degree Course of the Univ. of Colombo speaks six Western European Languages and masters Latin and Greek. He was attached to the French Embassy, Colombo, and the Sri Lanka Embassy, Paris.
He also worked as a translator for U.N.E.S.C.O., Paris. Mario worked as International Conference Interpreter for Sri Lanka and as interpreter for foreign delegations to Sri Lanka. His services as translator were sought after by the French Ministry of Foreign A airs as regards Franco-Srilankan matters. A teacher of French at the Alliance Francaise of Colombo, he also worked as a polyglott in Tourism. A dedicated writer with several books both in English and French to his credit, he travels world wide.
Laetitia Buczaczer
Laetitia Buczaczer a scholar of the French University of Lyon holds two D.E.U.G. (DiplƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚´mes DƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢Etudes Universitaires GƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚©nƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚©rales) degrees in Law and Psychology. She specialises in Theravada Buddhism and Monasticism and constantly travels to Buddhist countries of South and South-East Asia for that purpose. Laetitia holds an administrative post in a leading French Company in Lyon. Since more than ten years she works with Mario Perera in literary endeavours as collaborator and co-author.