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A dhamma daana of a different kind

Published

6 years ago

2020/08/23

Four-decades of writings by Prof. Asanga Tilakaratne, eminent scholar of Buddhist Studies and the one time Head of the Department of Buddhist Studies, University of Colombo, featured in eight volumes will be launched on August 27 at the BMICH.

by Randima Attygalle

Cataloguing the work of a reputed scholar spanning over four decades, elicited from numerous sources, both local and foreign, into a collection of eight meticulously compiled journals is a colossal task. In a labour of love, this has been realized by a team of Buddhist and Pali scholars guided by Ven. (Prof) Raluwe Padmasiri Thera in a manner true to the words of the Buddha, “If anything is worth doing, do it with all your heart.”

The eight volumes, five in English and three in Sinhala are a tribute to the eminent scholar Prof. Asanga Tilakaratne credited not only for his fine literature of a wide canvas of Buddhism related themes but also for his work as a teacher moulding a generation of young scholars in Buddhist and Pali studies. He has drawn inspiration from celebrated modern interpreters of Buddhism such as K.N. Jayatilleke and David J. Kalupahana in his scholarly pursuits.

The writings of Prof. Tilakaratne, the founder Head of the Department of Buddhist Studies, University of Colombo, are classified under several key themes including Buddhist Philosophy, Buddhist Ethics, Theravada Studies, Buddhism and Modernity, Inter-religious understanding and Buddhist Literature and Culture. The soon-to-be-launched collection will bring the painstakingly researched papers of the reputed scholar closer to the student, researcher and the intellectual reader.

The idea of compiling Prof. Tilakaratne’s academic papers was first mooted as a casual discussion among a group of scholars at the occasion of his retirement from the University of Colombo in 2018 as the Senior Chair Professor of Pali and Buddhist Studies. “Initially neither they nor I had any inkling that the project will run into many volumes! All papers compiled under eight different banners are what I have written for four decades. Although I have been teaching full time for the last 30 years, I did not stop my research and writing because teaching and writing go together. If the teacher is not delivering new themes and fresh raw materials, he is not doing justice to his students,” says Prof. Tilakaratne.

He applauds the editorial board of ‘emerging Buddhist scholars’ comprising his friends, junior colleagues and students for embarking on this uphill task. The panel which represents the four-fold group in Buddhist society (Bhikku-Bhikkuni, Upasaka-Upasika) truly represents the future of Buddhist Studies in the country, says Tilakaratne who notes that they have the “potential to take contemporary Theravada Buddhist scholarship to the world”.

Prof. AsangaTilakaratne

Comprehensive scholarly introductions by renowned Buddhist scholars- both local and foreign add to the substance of the volumes. Ven. Tirikunamale Ananda Mahanayaka Thera, Jayadeva Uyangoda- Emeritus Professor of Political Science, University of Colombo and G. A. Somaratne, Professor of Buddhist Studies, Centre for Buddhism, University of Hong Kong, are credited for the introductions of the three Sinhala publications. Scholars like Dr. Surakkulame Pemaratana Thera, emerging monastic Buddhist scholar who holds a doctorate from Pittsburg University and works at Pennsylvania University, USA, Anne M. Blackburn of Cornell, Damien Keown of Goldsmiths College, University of London, Rupert Gethin, President of Pali Text Society, London and Professor of Bristol University, UK, and Abraham Velez of Kentucky University, USA complements the English volumes.

The demand for Buddhist books continues to escalate but this, however, needs to have a mechanism of checks and balances, remarks Prof. Tilakaratne. “With the demand, there is now a tendency to publish practically anything in the name of Buddhism for this ready market,” says the author who urges publishers to have the manuscripts reviwed by a qualified panel of scholars. In the USA and the UK the average time between handing over the manuscript to the publisher and its publication is two years or more.

“But in a situation where a good number of books published in this country are author’s own publications, with no guarantee of accuracy or value whatsoever, means that anyone can publish virtually anything provided they have resources. there must be a broader mechanism in place in order to assure that what is given to readers is of good quality.”

In this backdrop, the collection authored and edited by qualified professionals bear the intellectual responsibility for the content. The panel of editors had also taken considerable efforts to adhere to sound academic traditions.

The two volumes ‘Inter-religious understanding’ and ‘Buddhism and Modernity’ featured in the collection are particularly topical in the contemporary setting bidding the Buddhist intelligentsia of Sri Lanka to create a dialogue on these topics, notably on religious understanding so that communal reconciliation becomes a reality. “History reflects that Buddhism has faced challenges with courage and survived. Since 1815 the challenges posed by modernity in a Sri Lankan setting have been diverse and serious, so much so at a certain point, during this early period of the island’s British colonial history even some local scholars seemed to have thought that Buddhism will definitely lose the battle. Some papers in the collection discuss issues related to this aspect of modernism,” explains Prof. Tilakaratne.

What is significant in the collection is that it addresses issues related to how Buddhism as an organization adapted to new situations and adopted certain aspects of modernity while preserving the core of its philosophy. One of the key aspects of the author’s academic writings, which is reflected even in his formative years of academic and intellectual development is his effort to interpret the teachings of Buddha in the context of problems arising from modern scientific and technological developments. His first book Minis Getalu Pilibanda Bauddha Vigrahaya (Buddhist Analysis of Human Problems), published in 1979, belongs to this genre and won the State Literary award for that year.

Inter-religious understanding deliberates on theoretical and doctrinal issues as well as issues arising from historical and social contexts. “Doctrinally and philosophically the challenge for any religion is to accommodate other religions while preserving one’s own uniqueness. Where multiplicity of religion is a fact in one’s daily life, stressful situations among religious followers is inevitable. The challenge for each religion is to find out its own resources to cope with such situations. In my writings I have tried to develop a position which to my understanding is fair by Buddhism as well as other religions,” observes the author.

While lauding everyone who supported to make this initiative a reality, Prof. Tilakaratne makes special mention of Ven. Bellanwila Dhammaratana Nayaka Thera, Chief incumbent of Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya and the publisher of the collection- Sarasavi Publishers.

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Sun directly overhead Bentota, Thiniyawala, Iththakanda, Udawalawe, and Kataragama about 12.08 noon t9day (06)

Published

16 hours ago

2026/09/6

Priyan

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 (06) are Bentota, Thiniyawala, Iththakanda, Udawalawe, and Kataragama about 12.08 noon

News

UN welcomes Lanka’s anti-graft drive, seeks end to impunity

Published

17 hours ago

2026/09/6

Thilina Walpola

MONETABRIEF –The UN human rights chief on Thursday welcomed Sri Lanka’s robust anti-corruption drive but urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to apply the same vigour to ending impunity for continuing rights abuses.

In its latest report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, High Commissioner Volker Turk noted that cases of torture and deaths in custody continued to be reported in Sri Lanka despite the change of administration.

“While it is encouraging that the Sri Lankan authorities have taken action to address corruption cases and some crimes linked to the post-war period, more needs to be done to end the long legacy of impunity in the country,” the rights chief said.

His report, covering October 2025 to July 2026, notes steps to tackle corruption, including high-profile arrests and investigations linked to political killings, enforced disappearances and the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

He said it had been a difficult period for Mr Dissanayake’s new government, following the devastating Cyclone Ditwah which killed some 650 people and devastated much of the island and a global spike in energy prices.

The report noted that the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka had documented 602 cases of torture and ill-treatment in 2025 and 138 cases by April 2026.

The local commission also reported 18 deaths in custody last year and a further three by April this year. In one such case, a 40-year-old inmate detained for a minor drug-related offence died at Welikada Prison in Colombo on 3 May, allegedly from severe beatings.

“This Government still has an opportunity to turn the tide on decades of abuse of executive power, repressive laws and custodial violence, and entrenched impunity,” Turk said.

He regretted that the government had yet to deliver on its promise of legal and institutional reforms and continued to apply the repressive Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), resulting in arbitrary arrests and prolonged detention without charge.

Civil society actors, activists and journalists remained subject to state surveillance, while tensions over land and religious sites continued to simmer, the report said.

It also highlighted violent riots at Negombo Prison in July, which left at least 32 dead, underscoring the urgent need for prison reform to address systemic issues, including severe overcrowding.

The UN Human Rights Office had received at least 16 allegations of surveillance against civil society actors, activists and journalists, the report said.

There was “a clear and continuing pattern of state surveillance, intimidation and reprisals by military and intelligence officials, including from the Criminal Investigations Department or the Terrorism Investigation Division”.

“Individuals are repeatedly questioned about their travels, especially to Geneva and engagement with UN human rights processes, as well as their organizational affiliations, funding sources, and participation in protests or commemorative events.”

While the Government had continued to denounce racism and promote national unity, wider efforts to ensure truth and justice risked stalling and the momentum for transformative change being lost, the report warned.

Failures to effectively investigate and prosecute crimes under international law allegedly committed during the armed conflict persisted.

“It is crucial that there is decisive and meaningful action toward accountability for crimes and violations by all parties during the more than two-decade armed conflict,” Turk said.

He noted the recent decision by the Attorney-General to indict former Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, also known as Pillayan, and three others in connection with the abduction and murder of former Eastern University Vice-Chancellor Professor Sivasubramaniam Raveendranath in 2006.

“It is, however, regrettable that many other serious emblematic cases remain stalled for years, including the killing of 17 Action Contre La Faim aid workers in Muttur 20 years ago,” he said, calling for meaningful steps to resolve such delays.

The High Commissioner urged Sri Lanka to redouble its reconciliation and accountability efforts. He called for a moratorium on the use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act pending its repeal, as well as the release of long-term detainees held under it.

He also called for all individuals credibly accused of human rights violations to be excluded from senior positions in government, the security sector or the diplomatic service until such allegations were genuinely addressed and resolved.

He urged the Government to support victims’ memorialisation initiatives and to release military-occupied lands.

News

Dispute which triggered listed company director being detained at BIA resolved

Published

17 hours ago

2026/09/6

Thilina Walpola

A dispute between a wholly owned subsidiary of Lanka Realty Investments PLC, Mulberry Holdings (Pvt) Ltd., and a contractor, Omni Engineering & Trading Solutions, that resulted in Executive Director Hisham Jamaldeen of Lanka Realty being stopped at Katunayake and prevented from leaving on a business visit to the UK has been resolved with Jamaldeen bailed and the travel ban imposed on him revoked by the Maligakanda Magistrate, Lanka Realty’s said in a Stock Exchange filing last week.

This followed Mulberry agreeing to pay Rs. 25 million to Omni on or before Sept. 26.

Following media reports of Jamaldeen being prevented from leaving the country at the BIA, Lanka Realty made two Stock Exchange filings on Sept. 3 – the first detailing the dispute between the two parties and the second indicating that the matter had been settled.

In the first filing, the Secretaries for Lanka Realty said:

“The article refers to Mr. Mohamed Hisham Jamaldeen, Executive Director of Lanka Realty Investments PLC and a Director of Mulberry Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and the developer of “Mulberry Residences” in Colombo 10.

“Mulberry Holdings (Pvt) Ltd entered into a construction contract with Mr. Randika of M/s Omni Engineering & Trading Solutions on 21st June 2022 for a sum of LKR 32,854,992.00), which is less than 1% of the total value of the “Mulberry Residences” Project which is around LKR 3.6 Billion.

“The said contract is governed by the CIDA/SBD1 Standard Bidding Document Conditions of Contract, which provides for adjudication and, if required, arbitration as the applicable dispute resolution process. The Company understands that the underlying matter relates to a contractual payment dispute involving Mulberry Holdings (Pvt) Ltd’s aforcsaid contract.

“Following a call received from the Colombo Crime Division (CCD), Mr. Jamaldeen went to the CCD on 25th August 2026 and provided a statement in relation to the matter inter alia explaining that the matter in dispute was arising from a civil contract. He was not arrested on that date and was not informed at that time or thereafter prior to receiving information at the Airport, that a travel ban had been imposed.

“On 2nd September 2026, while travelling overseas for business on a pre-arranged itinerary, Mr. Jamaldeen was informed at immigration of a travel ban imposed on 24th August 2026, following which he was arrested by the CCD. A bail application is expected to be made when Mr. Jamaldeen is produced before the Magistrate’s Court of Maligakanda today, 3rd September 2026.”