Buddhist clergy urges President to set up fund to assist earthquake-hit Myanmar

By Yohan Perera   

Leading Sri Lankan Buddhist monks yesterday urged the Sri  Lankan government and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to set up a  fund to assist the temples and people of Myanmar, affected by the  recent earthquake.  

The appeal was made by Anunayaka of Kalyana Samagri Dharma  Maha Sangha Sabha Venerable Kotapitiye Rahula Thera, Venerable  Inguruwatte Piyananda Thera and Venerable Medagampitiye Wijithadhamma  Thera during a media briefing.   

Venerable Rahula Anunayaka Thera said he together with  other monks would request the President to set up a fund to assist  Myanmar. “We were trying to contact the President but were not  successful. However, we urge him to set up a fund to assist Myanmar and  we will also support him,” the Thera said.   

“We have already contacted the Sangaraja of Shwekyn chapter  the Venerable Sayadaw Ashin Nyanissara Thera of Myanmar. He requested  us to bless the Buddhists of his country, provide medical assistance to  the affected people and look after the Monks of Myanmar who are  studying in Sri Lanka. We also appeal to all religious leaders to  conduct services in their respective places of worship in memory of  those who have died in the tragedy and to invoke blessings on those who  are living so that they will be able to face their calamity with  resilience. We also call upon all Buddhist temples to exhibit a banner  to express solidarity with Buddhists in Myanmar,” he added.  

“The ties between the Sri Lankan monks and monks of Myanmar  is a long-standing one. Monks in Myanmar have supported Sri Lanka  immensely throughout the years. Venerable Vinayalankara Thera of Myanmar  is unforgettable as he was the one who brought the Chudamanikya to the  historic Ruwanweliseya when it was renovated in 1940. We have to  maintain these ties,” he said.   

Venerable Piyananda Thera said it is important to assist  the monks of Myanmar who are residing in Makutarama Temple Colombo.  “There are around 100 monks residing in this temple and more elsewhere. They  depend on their relatives and their temples back in Myanmar for their  education and maintenance of their temple. They are unable to make the  necessary payments to the universities in which they are studying in  Sri Lanka. They also need assistance for their day-to-day needs,” he  said.   

It was revealed that around 670 Buddhist Temples, 290  pagodas, 50 churches and mosques have been destroyed as a result of the  earthquake. Around 399 monks are said to have died in the tragedy while  many are missing. The monks also appealed to the public in Sri Lanka  especially to support the Myanmar monks residing in Sri Lanka.