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Singapore-based Buddhist monk marks nearly four decades of humanitarian service

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Distribution of necessary materials to pregnant mothers

Venerable Dr. Karadetiyana Gunarathana Thero, a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk based in Singapore, has continued his humanitarian and religious service across Asia for nearly 37 years, combining disaster relief, education, and community welfare initiatives.

The Thero, who serves as Senior Vice President of Singapore’s Multi-Religious Harmony Committee and Religious Advisor to the Mahakaruna Buddhist Society, has led or supported several large-scale relief projects in Sri Lanka. Following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, he helped facilitate the construction of more than 1,000 houses in partnership with the Suki Foundation. He has also contributed to the construction of schools in Vavuniya and Kegalle and assisted families affected by the Aranayaka landslide through a housing programme.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the monk coordinated the donation of hospital equipment, including beds, wheelchairs, medical masks and more than 750 oxygen concentrators.

His ongoing social service includes providing laptops and school supplies to underprivileged students, supporting kindergartens and computer training centres, and distributing dry rations to rural communities.

Venerable Dr K Gunarathna Thero

In late June, the Mahakaruna Buddhist Society organized welfare programmes in Vavuniya and Anuradhapura, benefiting pregnant mothers, schoolchildren and low-income families. A Poson Dansala held at the Sri Maha Bodhi premises served more than 20,000 devotees and was attended by government officials, religious leaders and community representatives.

Text and Pic by SK Samaranayake



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Showers will occur in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts

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WEATHER FORECAST FOR 02 SEPTEMBER 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 02 September 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

The atmospheric conditions are getting favorable for afternoon thundershowers in the Northern, North-central, Eastern and Uva provinces in the  next few days.

Several spells of showers will occur in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts.  Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Eastern and Uva provinces and in Mullaitivu district after 2.00 p.m.

Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over the Western slopes of the Central hills, the North-central and North-western provinces and in Hambantota and Matale districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

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Sun directly overhead Anamaduwa, Moragollagama, Dambulla, Manampitiya and Valaichchenai, at about 12.10 noon today (02)

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The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.

The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (02) are Anamaduwa, Moragollagama, Dambulla, Manampitiya and Valaichchenai, at about 12.10 noon.

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SC rejects petitioners’ request for full bench

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The Supreme Court yesterday rejected a request that the petitions challenging the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution be heard by a full bench of the Supreme Court.

Rejecting the request, Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena said the consideration of the petitions would proceed before the five-judge bench.

Appearing on behalf of one of the petitioners, President’s Counsel M. A. Sumanthiran made the request when the petitions were called for hearing yesterday before a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Surasena.

President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris, Ali Sabry, Geoffrey Alagaratnam, Eraj de Silva, Srinath Perera, Anura Meddegoda, and Maithri Gunaratne, along with other counsel appearing for several other petitioners, also made the same request.

Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, pointed out that the authority to determine the composition of a judicial bench rested with the Chief Justice. Refering to Article 132(3) of the Constitution, the Solicitor General argued that the discretion to determine the number of judges on a bench lay with the Chief Justice and that no other party had the authority to interfere in the matter.

Counsel including President’s Counsel Nigel Hatch, appearing for an intervening petitioner, also made submissions pointing out that the discretion to determine the composition of a bench rested with the Chief Justice.

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