Ja-Ela Correspondent

Buddhist devotees, when they serve alms to monks, should be careful to serve food that is cooked with less oil. If they serve more vegetable and fruits, the monks would live longer and be free of such diseases like diabetes and heart attacks, said Kadawatha, Ranmuthugala Viharadhipathi Sastrachariya Ven Silogama Wimalawansa Nayake Thero on the occasion of presenting the Casket containing the Sannasa awarding the honourary title "Sasana kirthie Sri Dharmabhimani" to Ja-Ela Bodhirajaramadhipathi Kurupanawe Wimalanda Thero at Ja-Ela Bodhirajaramaya on the New Year’s Day.

He said that while other religions work for the upliftment of their religious and cultural values, Buddhists do not have any agenda on such matters and as such it would be the duty of the Maha Nayaka Theros and other Buddhist Leaders to launch a programme towards achieving this end.

Ven Wimalawansa Thero said that if Buddhist religious and cultural aspects were not properly established, once the present generation of children grow old, Buddhism would be deteriorated in this country. He said that it was not only the monks but also the Buddhist laity should take the lead in this task. Though there were several categories of Buddhist Monks such as Walawwe Hamuduruwo, Appo Hamuduruwo, Emathi Hamudurwo and Manthree Hamuduruwo, they were not in a position to protect Buddhim. Buddhist that came to exist from India 2500 years ago, was well protected only in Sri Lanka.

He said that today Buddhists were only for name sake. Ven Wimalawansa Thero said that these "Bahu Baudhayo" brand those who come forward to claim for our rights that we were nationalists and religious fanatics. In funeral houses there were card playing, carrom playing on bets and liquor were consume. Several other monks and laity also spoke.

Seventh year donation

The Islamic Literary Society, Kolonnawa, for the seventh consecutive year will distribute free school exercise books, stationery, uniform material and financial assistance to poor Muslim students on Saturday, January 12 at the Hameed Al Husseinie College Hall, Colombo 12.

The chief guest will be Al Haj Mohamed Mahroof, Minister of Urban Public Utilities.

Mr. B. Nilamudeen will preside Moulavi Al Haj A. M. M. Abdussalam, Falahi will be the Guest Speaker.

MBE for Sri Lankan doctor

[Dr. Christine Savitri Rajah (Manohitharajah) was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours list. The citation read "for Services as Head of Health Services, City University, London and for University Education". Christine had her early education at Ladies’ College, Colombo, before her family migrated to the U.K. in 1967.