The 60th anniversary celebrations of the World Buddhist Sangha Council (WBSC), along with the second executive committee meeting and the 11th General Conference, will be held in Sri Lanka on 28 November–1 December.
“This landmark event will bring together eminent monastic leaders, scholars, and delegates from across the world to celebrate six decades of global Buddhist unity, dialogue, and cooperation,” the WBSC stated. (WBSC 60th Anniversary)
The inaugural ceremony is scheduled for 28 November at the Nagananda International Buddhist University in Colombo. The executive committee meeting and an academic conference will follow on 29 November. A special religious offering seeking world peace will be conducted in the afternoon of 30 November before the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura. Religious observances centered on the Ruwanweli Maha Seya and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy will take place on 1 December.
Approximately 600 representatives from 50 countries, representing all Buddhist traditions are expected to attend the anniversary celebrations. The conference will also feature participation of 500 members from the Maha Sangha of Sri Lanka, including the Mahanayake Theras of the three Nikayas. Invitations have been extended to representatives of Buddhist countries, including the king of Bhutan.
To prepare for the event, a special discussion was held on 24 February this year at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
A joint committee has been appointed to coordinate state support for the event, comprising the Minister of Buddha Sasana, a representative of the Presidential Secretariat, the Defence Secretary, the Inspector General of Police, and Foreign Ministry officials.
Several subsequent meetings have also been held at the governmental level to finalize arrangements for the event.
On 23 June, the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs convened a meeting in the presence of the executive committee of the WBSC 60th Anniversary Celebration.
During the meeting, Minister Hiniduma Sunil Senevi stated that hosting the WBSC in Sri Lanka was a highly honorable and historic occasion, emphasizing that this noble and meritorious event would showcase Sri Lanka’s rich Buddhist heritage and diplomatic relations to the world.
A volume titled Guardians of the Dhamma in Sri Lanka: The Theravada Sangha and Its Great Masters, edited by G. A. Somaratne, professor at the Centre of Buddhist Studies at The University of Hong Kong, is expected to be released during the event to commemorate the occasion.
The WBSC is an international Buddhist monastic organization dedicated to safeguarding the Buddhadharma, promoting harmony among Buddhist schools, and contributing to world peace with the following objectives:
• Developing organizations and exchanges of the sangha worldwide
• Helping the sangha carry out Dhammaduta activities throughout the world
• Enhancing harmony and relationships among different Buddhist traditions
• Propagating the Buddha’s teaching of compassion to promote world peace
The WBSC has sangha members from 25 countries. It was established in Colombo, in May 1966 with its first conference. Subsequent conferences have been held in Vietnam, Taiwan, and New Zealand.
See more
Six Decades of Global Buddhist Unity (WBSC 60th Anniversary)
Sri Lanka to host 60th anniversary of World Buddhist Sangha Council (Daily Mirror Online)
Introduction of World Buddhist Sangha Council (World Buddhist Sangha Council)
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