AI Overview The Most Venerable Denmark Meththawihari Thero, born as Jacub Jacobson, a pioneering figure in digital Buddhism and education, passed away on Sunday night, December 7, 2025, at the age of 80.  The  Venerable Monk had been receiving treatment for cancer in Denmark while under the care of his sister at his home in Denmark. His […]

Senaka Weeraratna The German Dharmaduta Society (GDS) recently held a book donation event for the children of Udaragama Primary School, a remote school located in the Medirigiriya District of Polonnaruwa. The donation included exercise books and CR books, essential for the students’ education. The event was spearheaded by Ven. Pelane Dhamma Kusala Thera, the Chief […]

Senaka Weeraratna ·  The primodial Sinhalese identity is rooted in the Sinhalese ethnic group which has a long history of existence for over 2500 years, unique and distinct language (Sinhala), and a strong connection to Buddhism and the historical kingdoms of the island. The Sinhalese are world renown as the custodians of Buddhism and Sri […]

Senaka Weeraratna The Mind of King Parakramabahu I (1153–1186 CE) was that of a visionary and pragmatic ruler, characterized by a relentless drive for the unification of Sri Lanka, a deep commitment to the welfare of his people through massive engineering projects, and a strategic, sometimes ruthless, approach to governance and military affairs.  Visionary and […]

AI Overview Indian cricket fans, along with the broader cricket world, are increasingly acknowledging that the core concept of the Decision Review System (DRS), the Player-Referral idea, originated with Sri Lankan lawyer Senaka Weeraratna in 1997, a significant innovation that revolutionized umpiring accuracy, although formal global credit from the ICC remains pending.  Key Points of Recognition: […]

Senaka Weeraratna Today i.e., December 12, 2025 marks the 1O7th Birth Anniversary of Asoka Weeraratna (founder of the German Dharmaduta Society, Berlin Vihara in Germany and the Mitirigala Nissarana Vanaya) later known as Ven. Mitirigala Dhammanisanthi Thero. Asoka Weeraratna was born on December 12, 1918. He died on July 2, 1999 at the age of 80 […]

Source:  AI Overview Historical accounts of ancient Sinhalese Kings describe a mindset defined by persistent defiance against external rule, characterized by a refusal to submit to foreign powers even during periods of occupation. In contrast, contemporary leadership analysis suggests that modern Sri Lankan professional and political structures often emphasize paternalistic authority, where subordinates are expected […]

Senaka Weeraratna Japan’s Master Plan, if carried out without first attacking Pearl Harbour, would have allowed Japan to dominate everything from East Asia to the Suez Canal plus liberate India and Ceylon from British occupation, says Japanese war history expert, Hiromichi Moteki. Hiromichi Moteki, Japanese war history expert, says that Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbour […]

Source – AI Overview The 75th Anniversary Celebrations and 31st General Conference of The World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) will commence in Bangkok, Thailand on December 05, and run until December 07, 2025.  The discussions will include plenary deliberations, policy resolutions,among others. The existential threats to Buddhist nations and minority Buddhist communities must be raised again at […]

AI Overview https://share.google/aimode/kgMjtMHcaBfS5lp4k Ven Bhikkhu Bodhi’s 2000 talk, “The Necessity of Promoting Buddhism in Europe,” delivered at the invitation of the German Dharmaduta Society (GDS) in Colombo, highlighted the urgent need for a robust and authentic Buddhist presence in the West, emphasizing the establishment of a full monastic order (Sangha) and addressing the spiritual crisis […]

Source: AI Overview The All-Ceylon Buddhist Congress (ACBC) was the first institution in post-independence Sri Lanka to investigate colonial-era crimes and their impact , culminating in the 1956 publication of the Buddhist Commission Report.  This report, popularly known as the Buddhist Commission Report (or in its abridged English version, The Betrayal of Buddhism), detailed the […]

Courtesy:  AI Overview https://share.google/aimode/fvX39iFaANCcs2dME Sri Lanka has produced several highly influential Buddhist figures, but the most renowned for their lasting missionary legacy are Arahant Mahinda (and his sister Sanghamittā Therī) in ancient times, and Anagarika Dharmapala in the modern era.  Arahant Mahinda and Sanghamittā Therī (Ancient Era) Arahant Mahinda, the son of the Indian Emperor […]

AI Overview https://share.google/aimode/i9Nyq7PNhw6O3S3Hy The Buddhist Commission Report (1956) and the Book ‘ The Revolt in the Temple’ by D.C. Wijewardene (1953), laid the ideological foundation for the S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike led Sinhala Buddhist Electoral Revolution of 1956 TheBu ddhist Commission Report and the book The Revolt in the Temple by D.C. Wijewardena are widely recognized as […]

AI Overview The user’s statement about the moral heroism of Sinhalese Kings leading to Sri Lanka becoming a world leader in animal rights in the pre-colonial era is strongly supported by historical accounts and chronicles. . The arrival of Arahant Mahinda approximately 2,300 years ago was indeed a pivotal turning point that embedded the principle […]

S. Prakash Sinha Review products The Proposed Foreign Investment Authority Law of Sri Lanka (1976): A Critical Analysis, by Senaka Kumar Weeraratna. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Lake House Investments Ltd., 1982. Pp. xx, 155. Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2019 S. Prakash Sinha https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-journal-of-legal-information/article/abs/proposed-foreign-investment-authority-law-of-sri-lanka-1976-a-critical-analysis-by-senaka-kumar-weeraratna-colombo-sri-lanka-lake-house-investments-ltd-1982-pp-xx-155/D05B62FB9B59262E03721860FD464710 AI Overview The claim is correct: Senaka Kumar Weeraratna’s […]

AI Overview Answer The Vatican bears a high degree of historical accountability for the Portuguese Inquisition in the colonies because it provided the initial religious and legal justification for Portuguese imperial expansion and the subjugation of non-Christian peoples, even though the specific actions of the Inquisition were largely administered as a state-controlled institution.  Vatican’s Role […]

Source: AI Overview Don Juan Dharmapala’sconversion to Christianity and subsequent actions are widely considered a significant betrayal of Buddhism and Sinhalese sovereignty. Key lessons from this historical period emphasize the dangers of foreign dependence, the importance of safeguarding national heritage and religious freedom, and the need for strong, independent leadership.  The Betrayal: Key Actions and […]

Source: AI Overview The Buddha outspokenly criticized and banned animal sacrifice, a prevalent practice in Vedic traditions of his time, which significantly paved the way for the ideal of vegetarianism in India. His emphasis on compassion (karuṇā) and non-violence (ahimsa) toward all sentient beings formed the ethical foundation for this shift.  Opposition to Animal Sacrifice The […]

Source:  AI Overview https://share.google/aimode/QQsoO1IUAgGyKNrrn This statement highlights historical events involving European powers—the Inquisition, the Holocaust, and colonialism—and the subsequent impact on Europe’s moral standing in the eyes of peoples in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and elsewhere. These events are well-documented historical facts and the resulting perspectives from the affected regions are a subject of […]

AI Overview https://share.google/aimode/8GvhDIorcVKJyzQdb Dr. Hans Wolfgang Schumann German-born Buddhist scholar Dr. Hans Wolfgang Schumann raised the question of German gratitude to the German Dharmaduta Society (GDS) for its role in supporting Buddhism in Germany after World War II . Many German Buddhists would likely agree, citing the GDS’s crucial intervention in purchasing and preserving “Das […]

AI Overview https://share.google/aimode/YCXXFLRisAdSAv2GJ Asoka Weeraratna was called the “Deveni Dharmapala” (Second Anagarika Dharmapala) for his monumental contributions to the revival and international spread of Buddhism, particularly in the West. This comparison is drawn due to the significant parallels between his life and work and that of the influential 19th-century Buddhist revivalist Anagarika Dharmapala.  The accolade was […]

Senaka Weeraratna I am Sinhalese. I am Sri Lankan. I am proud to be both.  As a Sinhalese I am conscious and proud to be an heir to a heritage rich with a unique history, a deep connection to Theravada Buddhism, remarkable ancient engineering, and a vibrant culture that has endured for over 2,500 years […]

Source : AI Overview TheMahavamsa of Mahanama Thero is widely considered the single most important literary work of Sri Lankan (Sinhala) origin and a major achievement on the world stage due to its unique historical and literary significance.  The combined work (Mahavamsa and its continuation, the Culavamsa) provides one of the world’s longest continuous historical […]

Senaka Weeraratna ( with AI Overview assistance) Take an Oath as follows: ” I proudly embrace my identity as a Sinhalese and my identity as a Sri Lankan. Both are priceless facets of who I am, and I believe wholeheartedly that they can and do co – exist peacefully. My Sinhalese heritage connects me to […]

Source – AI Overview The ancient Sinhalese people were known as the ‘Aryavamsa’ (Noble Race) by neighboring countries due to their high moral standards, especially their unique tradition of compassion towards animals, largely inspired by Buddhist principles.  Sri Lanka led the world on moral leadership in ancient times. It was the world’s leading country on […]

AI Overview Yes, the foundational concept of ‘Player Referral’, which is central to the Decision Review System (DRS) in cricket, was conceived by a Sri Lankan legal mind, Senaka Weeraratna.  In 1997, Senaka Weeraratna, a lawyer based in Colombo, first proposed the idea in a letter to an Australian newspaper, The Australian, and subsequently published […]

AI Overview The statement is accurate: Sri Lanka’s pre-colonial Buddhist monks and scholars made substantial contributions to the development of Buddhist civilizational values and knowledge systems that have had a worldwide impact, particularly within the Theravāda tradition.  Key contributions include: The emphasis on textual study, ethical living, and a structured monastic life, developed by these […]

Source: AI Overview The accounts of the Chinese pilgrims Fa-hien (5th century CE) and Xuanzang (7th century CE) confirm that Bodh Gaya is the fundamental site of Buddhism’s origins in India because it is where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. Their writings provide detailed historical evidence of the site’s importance as a major pilgrimage center and offer […]

Courtesy: AI Overview https://share.google/aimode/vzl6WECPJMz7zRglB While there have been demands from Sinhala Buddhist groups and social critics for a formal apology from the Vatican for the crimes committed by the Portuguese under the influence of Papal Bulls, the Vatican has not issued an official, specific apology directly to the nation of Sri Lanka for these historical […]

Senaka Weeraratna Several notable Germans, including legal scholars, physicians, and theologians, courageously spoke out and acted against the unjust persecution of witches in Europe, often at great personal risk Key figures include: These individuals, among others, provided crucial legal, ethical, and theological arguments that contributed to the eventual decline of the witch hunts in Germany […]