Interviews to select suitable persons to monkhood will be held on Wednesday (26) at the Dharmavijaya Foundation, 380/7, Sarana Road Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7.

The project planned jointly by the Dharmavijaya Foundation, Colombo and the Bodhiraja Foundation in Embilipitiya has generated much enthusiasm as seen from the considerable number of applicants who aspire to join the Sangha Sasana. Interviews will be held from 9. a.m. to 6 p.m.

The project objective is to attempt to arrest the moral and social decadence, which may be partly attributed to the dearth of leadership at the village or community level. Traditional leadership was provided by the Buddhist temple. Today there is a great need to strengthen the leadership of the temple by increasing the number of Buddhist monks where necessary and improving the quality of the Sangha community in general, the foundation said in a news release.

Initial training will commence in April and ordination is planned for Poson (June 2003), the venue for this will be Sri Bodhiraja Dharmayatanaya, Embilipitiya.

For each person selected for the 9 months of training, the cost is estimated at Rs. 15,000 at the rate of Rs. 2,000/- each for the first 3 months and Rs. 1,500/- each for the next 6 months, the Samanera training period. Wellwishers could become kepakaru dayakas by donating this amount in total or in instalments, preferably not more than 03.

Contributions may be sent to Dharmavijaya Foundation 380/7, Sarana Road, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07 (Phone 698870) by cheque (crossed/A/cPayee) drawn in favour of the Dharmavijaya Foundation. Please contribute early to this highly meritorious act.