Press Release from the German Dharmaduta Society

The German Dharmaduta Society (GDS), founded in Sri Lanka by Asoka Weeraratna in 1952, is governed by a Board of Trustees and Board of Management comprising Executive Office bearers (8), and Committee members (8).

 The Annual Gen­eral Meeting (AGM) of the German Dharmaduta Society was held on June 21, 2026 at the Auditorium of the Organization of Professional Associations (OPA).

The main event was the election of of­fice bear­ers and members of the Committee of the Board of Management of the Society for a period of another three years.

The new Office Bearers are as follows:

President                          –   Dr. Harsha Perera

Vice – Presidents            –   Dr. Newton Peiris

–         Ms. Shenali Waduge

–         Professor (Dr.) Saman Nanayakkara

Hony. Secretary               –    Mr. Senaka Weeraratna

Hony. Assistant

Secretary                           – Mr. Lal Wijesena

Hony. Treasurer               – Mr. Cecil Hettiarachchi

Committee                            –         Mr. Amarasiri Chandra de Silva

–         Mr. Mahesha Yahampath

–         Mr. H. Thissa Bandara

–         Dr. K.A.S. Keeragala

–         Mr. M.I. Sahabandu

–         Mr. Wickremasiri Jayawickrema

–         Ms. Dilini Meewewa

–         Mr. Kanishka Meewewa

The Board of Trustees

1)     Mr. Senaka Weeraratna

2)     Mr. Lakshman Hettiaratchi

3)     Mr. Ananda Wimaladharma

4)     Mr. Kosala Wickremanayake

5)     Dr. Newton Peiris

Secretary to the Board of Trustees – Mr. Lal Wijesena

The Society continues to manage the Berlin Buddhist Vihara (Das Buddhistische Haus) in Germany, which celebrated its historic 100th anniversary in 2024 under full state patronage in Colombo and Germany.

Press Release from the German Dharmaduta Society