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 […]

Senaka Weeraratna (with AI assistance) Throughout nearly 450 years of European colonial rule, the Sinhalese people resisted the Portuguese, Dutch, and British occupations, producing numerous figures now celebrated as national heroes Against the Portuguese (1518–1658) The resistance against the Portuguese was characterized by continuous conflicts and shifting alliances, primarily led by the kings and princes […]

Source: AI Overview AI Overview response The statement that the Seethawaka Kings, Mayadunne and his son Rajasinghe I, fought fiercely against the Portuguese occupation and in doing so restored the pride and dignity of the Sinhalese people, is largely accurate from a historical perspective on their resistance efforts. Their military resistance was a significant source […]

German Dharmaduta Society (AI assisted) Preservation and Dissemination of Theravāda Buddhism Preservation of the Pāli Canon: The Theravāda Pāli Canon, the foundational scripture for Southern Buddhism, was first committed to writing in Sri Lanka at Aluvihara in the 1st century BCE, ending a long tradition of oral transmission. This written record has been crucial for […]

Source:  AI Overview The 800-year historical relationship betweenThailand (Siam) and Sri Lanka (Sinhala)  is primarily defined by the mutual exchange and preservation of Theravada Buddhism, which has profoundly shaped their respective cultures, art, architecture, and national identities. This enduring “golden thread” of religious cooperation has been crucial for the continuity and development of the Sangha […]

Source:  AI Overview https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1915_Sinhalese-Muslim_riots The Justice Woodrenton Report found that the shooting of rioters by the military and police during the 1915 riots could not be legally justified, although it deemed the actions to have been taken in good faith for public safety.  Further findings of the report included:         Source:  AI […]

Source :  AI Overview The 1915 riots in Ceylon were triggered by the Supreme Court’s judgment in February 1915 related to a long-standing dispute over a Buddhist religious procession (perahera) in Gampola.  The specific case was an appeal where the Supreme Court overturned a District Court’s decision that had favored the Buddhist temple authorities of […]

 Courtesy:   AI Overview During the British Occupation of Ceylon (1796-1948), the judiciary ultimately supported the colonial administration’s “divide and rule” strategy through its judgments. By weakening traditional indigenous systems of justice and elevating Roman-Dutch law and aspects of English common law, the British-controlled courts eroded traditional Buddhist authority and custom, thus aiding colonial objectives and […]

Source:  AI Overview According to the Portuguese Historian Fernão de Queirós, and other sources detailing the Portuguese colonial period, many Buddhist and Hindu temples were systematically destroyed in Sri Lanka to make way for the construction of Christian churches Temples and corresponding churches mentioned in historical accounts Based on available historical accounts, including some that reference Queirós’s […]

AI Overview King Don Juan Dharmapala’s conversion to Christianity and subsequent actions were a significant turning point in Sri Lankan history, widely viewed as a betrayal of Buddhism by the Sinhalese majority. His actions were heavily influenced by the Portuguese Christian missionaries and had lasting negative impacts on the Buddhist religious structure in his kingdom.  […]

Source :  AI Overview The Vatican was associated with the Portuguese Inquisition in Goa and Ceylon (Sri Lanka), as it authorized the establishment of the Inquisition in the Portuguese territories and Popes sanctioned Portuguese conquests for the propagation of the Catholic faith. However, the Goa Inquisition was primarily an extension of the Portuguese Inquisition and […]

AI Overview https://share.google/aimode/pRSGiplqdOoCqgQu4 Question Jeewaka was the Buddha’s Physician. He is venerated in Thailand by its Medical Profession and statues of Jeewaka are a common sight in Thai Hospitals. Can Sri Lanka being another Theravada Buddhist country adopt the practice of remembering Jeewaka like in Thailand. What measures are required by the authorities in Sri […]

Senaka Weeraratna Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit passed away on October 25 at the age of 93. She is the mother of the King of Thailand King Vajiralongkorn Sirikit. She was Queen of Thailand from 28 April 1950 to 13 October 2016 as the wife of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. She had visited […]

Senaka Weeraratna Is Bollywood influencing the Indian mind and taking it away from its deep seated nationalism and spiritual roots, and replacing the sacred icons of India like the Buddha, Mahavira, Emperor Asoka, Mahatma Gandhi, and the like with lightweight film stars and singers of mean repute and dubious character who are being increasingly projected […]

Senaka Weeraratna  Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) as a governing body registered under the Ministry of Sports is tasked with upholding the country’s cricketing heritage and promoting the sport from the grassroots to the international level. They also have responsibilities related to protecting the integrity of Sri Lankan cricket through disciplinary protocols and ensuring fair play.  […]