Ceylon Radio
Athula Dassana Multicultural Buddhist Community Centre successfully organised the 67th celebration of Sri Lankan Independence Day at the Lampton School, Hounslow on Saturday 31st January 2015. This is the third year the celebration took place and the event was organised with a theme of “The Lion – Season 3”.
The event was one of the most successful events organised by the Athula Dassana Multicultural Buddhist Community Centre with a large number gathering, representing Most Venerable Mahasanga, invitees and devotees of the Athula Dassana Buddhist Temple. The chief guests of the event were Venarable Homagama Kondagngna Thero, Mrs Kokila Waydyarathne, Minister of Education, Sri-Lankan High Commission United Kingdom, Dr. Sathish Muthulingam.
There were a large numbers of business community and devotees also present as invitees to the event. Dr. Nishane Bajramovic, Managing Director, Estetica Dental Clinic, Mr. Ranga Ranasinghage, Managing Director, Ceylonuk News paper, Mr. Bandara Wekadapola, Rugby Referee of UK, Mr. Thilak Gunawardena and Mr. Buddhika Weerasinghe.
Most Venerable Wanduraba Kassapa Thero highlighted the importance of celebrating Independence Day and his speech reminded us the history of gaining our freedom and also reminded the importance of remembering leaders, soldiers and citizens of the country who had shed their blood and lives to gain our freedom.
Ven. Wanduramba Kassapa Chief Incumbent and President of Athula Dassana Multicultural Buddhist Community Centre briefly disclosed the purpose of the event. The main focus was to educate the children and younger generation about their Motherland, focusing on the historical aspects whilst allowing children to experience and learn about the culture. It is important for this to happen as children who are born in the UK or have come to live in the UK do not always get a sense of Sri Lankan Culture in their everyday lives. Therefore by celebrating this day, it allows us to educate our children and for them to experience the importance of Sri Lankan culture.
Invitees and Participants had appreciated the effort by Athula Dassana Multicultural Buddhist Community Centre in bringing Sri Lankan culture and tradition to the Sri Lankan community living in a foreign country.
The compares of the evening were Mr.Chanuka Samarakoon, Mrs. Maheshi Kokila and Miss Manisha Fernando. Mr. Roshan Lutes and his team from ‘Saro’ dancing Academy and students of Athula Dassana Dhamma School enriched the event with traditional cultural dances and performance.
