|
||
News at Tipitaka Network |
Buddhists & Catholics aid Sri Lanka refugeesBy UCA News, Friday, May 1, 2009Buddhists and Catholics in Colombo, shocked by the plight of tens of thousands of Tamil civilians caught up in Sri Lanka’s civil war, have organized relief collection for those displaced. With about 185,000 refugees confined in government-controlled camps across the Jaffna peninsula, about 300 Buddhist monks took to the Colombo-Galle Highway on April 29 for a Pindapatha Charikawa (walk collecting alms), to collect relief items. Buddhist monk Venerable Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thera, who organized the walk, said they wanted to create awareness among Buddhists in the country over the “desperate conditions their Tamil brothers and sisters were facing in the refugee camps” and to take steps to help them. The Sinhalese who form the majority of the population in Sri Lanka are mostly Buddhists, while the minority Tamils are mostly Hindus. Buddhist monks from temples and other Buddhist institutions across Colombo and its suburbs took part in the walk. They were assisted by over 500 laypeople, who helped them collect items donated by the crowds who lined the route. All the items collected were later put on a lorry to be sent north. On the same day, Catholic nuns in Colombo staged their own relief collection effort at the Centre for Society and Religion at St. Fatima’s Church. Sister Greta Rosario, provincial superior of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary said, “There is great enthusiasm among Catholics to help their brothers and sisters.” Sister Christobel Wijesekara, a local superior in Colombo, agreed saying she wanted to show her solidarity with the displaced Tamils as she packed up bundles of dried food, hygiene items and clothes to be put on a truck and sent to Jaffna. About 88 per cent of Tamil Christians in Sri Lanka are Catholic. source: http://www.speroforum.com/a/19154/Buddhists--Catholics-aid-Sri-Lanka-refugees Buddhist News Features: Thursday, May 4, 2023 Vesak Extra! Sunday, May 15, 2022 Vesak Extra! Wednesday, May 26, 2021 Vesak Extra! |
Samsara Pulse Thailand Buddha sculpture found in Thai-US navy salvage operation of sunken HTMS Sukhothai China Painter helps make Buddhas whole at grottoes from Sui Dynasty era Thailand International Buddhist Confederation organised symposium on Vipassana Meditation in Bangkok Thailand International Women’s Meditation Center Foundation announces outstanding Buddhist women for 2024 Samsara buzz Japan`s new bullet train line takes you to the country`s Buddhist heartland Turkmenistan The project on restoration of the Buddha`s head continues in Turkmenistan Sri Lanka De-conspiring the inscription CNN This ancient Buddhist temple food gets a modern makeover Vermont `A safe place for everybody to do their thing`: Brattleboro church becomes interfaith center Pakistan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa`s train safari unveils ancient Buddhist sites Laos A Japanese sculptor takes his skills overseas to restore Laotian artifacts India Ruins of ancient Buddhist site unearthed in Odisha’s cuttack South Korea 8 overlooked temple gates to be designated as national treasures India Buddhist relics and Sikh Empire`s link unveiled in New Delhi`s latest exhibition Cambodia President of WFB offers condolences on the passing of Supreme Patriarch Most Venerable Tep Vong Samsara buzz 41st Niwano Peace Prize awarded to American university professor Mohammed Abu-Nimer Thailand Pattaya students commemorate Makha Bucha Day at Wat Chaimongkhol Temple Cambodia Meak Bochea urges mindful actions Japan Young artisans revive ancient wooden Buddha statues Samsara buzz Cultivating wisdom through meditation: Unlocking inner peace |
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammāsambuddhassa.
Buddha sāsana.m cira.m ti.t.thatu.