Remembering Panadura Vadaya

I endorse Professor Jayasinghe’s call (letter, 28 Aug) for the 150th anniversary of the Panadura Vadaya in 2023 to be suitably commemorated. A monument should be erected at the site of the debate in Panadura, and a nearby museum should be founded, where visitors can learn about the organisation of the debate, biographical sketches of the speakers, excerpts of the daily speeches, and the repercussions of the debate both in Sri Lanka and abroad. Any artefacts, relating to the debate still in existence should be displayed.

The book on the debate by J M Peebles is widely read. This book is based on the original publication by John Capper, editor of the Ceylon Times, in 1873, entitled A Full Account of the Buddhist Controversy, held at Pantura, in August 1873 by the ‘Ceylon Times’ special reporter: with the addresses revised and amplified by the speakers, which is the only contemporaneous account of the debate. It also contains contributions from Venerable Gunananda, Rev. David de Silva and F S Sirimanne.  This book has never been republished and this anniversary is surely the ideal time to do so.

Dr R P FERNANDO
UK
Commissar