-Arrival of the band

Finally the Sri Lankan Airliner carrying the Ambassadors of Peace from Thailand touched down at the Bandaranaike International Airport at 22.30 Hours. Children of the band dressed smartly made every head turn at the Airport. People couldn’t help but look in awe at the dashing kiddos marching out of the airport to the beat of the traditional drums of Sri Lanka.

The children from Sri Lanka welcomed the children from Thailand with a tradition al Kandian Dance which was applauded by not only the Thai children but every bystander at the airport. The welcome group consisted of the following people:

Honourable Deputy Minister of Aviation Mr. Sarath Kumara Gunarathna Honourable Minister Counsellor Royal Thai Embassy Colombo Mr.Prasittidesh Vichitsorasatra Rev. Fr. Anthony Humer Pinto – Provincial Superior of Don Bosco Sri Lanka, Ven. Konde Gammulla Gnanasiri Thero, Rev. Fr. K.D. Dominic Ajith Shiran – Rector of Don Bosco Negombo, Rev. Fr. Lucian Bernard Fernando – Rector of Bosco Sevana, Rev. Fr. Sebastian Peiris – Rector Don Bosco Kandy, Bro. Gabriel Garniga – Provincial Economer of Don Bosco Sri Lanka, Mr. George Panicker – CEO Projects of Don Bosco Sri Lanka, Mr. Roy Irvin Peiris – PRO of Don Bosco Sri Lanka, Mr. Asoka Kavirathna – Project Coordinator

To put it in a nut shell the ‘Sarasit Phithayalai School Marching and Show Band’ form Don Bosco Thailand was received in Sri Lanka by eminent personalities as TRUE AMBASSADORS.

-The Countdown & Press Conference

The countdown has begun. The stage is set. The logistics are in place. The local Electronic and Print Media have been doing tremendous publicity. The press conference held on September 23, 2008 at the Hilton Colombo seems to have heralded the news to all corners of the island. The buildup to the Grand Finale is so humungous that the telephones have not stopped ringing at the headquarters of Don Bosco Sri Lanka. Well wishers from not only across the island but also overseas have been calling to convey their appreciation and support for this unique PEACE initiative by Don Bosco.

-Don Bosco - Road Show

29th of September 2008 at 22.55 Hrs Sri Lanka time the flight from Bangkok will land at the BIA. Sri Lankan Children are anxiously counting the number of day and hours left for the Ambassadors of Peace to March into their Land all the way from Thailand. The enthusiasm is so high that the children of Don Bosco Sri Lanka are busy doing road shows. Children from Don Bosco Sri Lanka with musical instruments and systems loaded on a truck going from school to school and area to area belting out popular numbers is what people witness here. Well, should I call it Road Show or say that the ‘March towards PEACE’ in Sri Lanka has already begun. Either way, the children who are the True mbassadors of Peace are making a huge difference in Sri Lanka for the sake of PEACE. Way to go kiddos, carry on Marching.

-PRESS RELEASE

Sri Lankan children will have a rare opportunity of seeing a young, world-class brass band when a group of over 100 children from Thailand perform and also interact with them in a series of events that will coincide with International Children’s Day.

The award-winning Sarasit Phithayalai School Marching and Show Band (gold medal winners at the 2006 World Marching Show Band Championships in Korea being one of numerous awards), comprising children from 9 to 18 years of age will perform in Negombo, Nochchiyagama, Balapitiya, Tangalle, and Colombo from October 1 to 13. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has invited the band to perform at Temple Trees.

Flying in from Thailand with instruments and all, the band is being brought to Sri Lanka by the Salesians of Don Bosco in the name of peace and harmony.

‘Marching towards peace with children’ as the series of events is titled, is Don Bosco’s way of contributing their mite to the country, in addition to the numerous social work they carry out by providing vocational training for youth of all races and religions across the country.

The children in this band from Ban Pong district who not only pursue their academic studies but also foster their love of music under the wings of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Thailand are all Buddhists, testimony to the non-discriminatory policy of the Salesians not only in that country but all over the world.

The Salesians of Don Bosco are a religious congregation founded by St. John Bosco in 1859 in Turin, Italy, to help, educate and train poor boys. The Salesians came to Sri Lanka in the 1950s with French priest Rev. Fr. Henry Remery.

Currently, the Salesians of Don Bosco have an island-wide network of 16 centres in 11 districts being run under the guidance of Provincial Superior Rev. Fr. Anthony H. Pinto. Some of the centres are located at Arabegama, Bibile, Dankotuwa, Elpitiya, Kotadeniyawa, Kandy, Murunkan, Nochchiyagama, Negombo, Palliyawatta and Uswetakeiyawa, with the hub being Dungalpitiya in Negombo.

In addition to providing vocational training, the Salesians are also heavily involved in preventing child abuse, along with the clergy of other religions, particularly Buddhist monks.

With more than 34,000 Salesians spread across the world, they are active in 130 countries in Asia, Africa, West Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America and Australia.

end

-Don Bosco donates a Sangawasaya to 'Sri Priyadharshanaramaya' Temple, at 'Palugollagama, Megodawewa'

A brilliant example of Christian Charity came live with the donation of a 'Sangawasaya' - hostel by the Salesian Fathers of Don Bosco for the use of Novice Monks of the 'Buddha Sasana' studying at 'Sri Gnanissara Pirivena' at the 'Sri Priyadharshanaramaya' Temple, at 'Palugollagama, Megodawewa', a remote vil­lage in the Anuradhapura district in the North Central Province at a cost of Rs. 1.4 million.
The handing over ceremo­ny of the 'Sangawasaya' was held on July 27 by Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Humor Pinto SDB, the Country Director and Provincial of the Sale­sian Fathers working in Sri Lanka.
Religious dignitaries, politicians and laymen pre­sent to witness a rare occa­sion of the manifestation of religious amity, organized by the 'Dayaka Sabhawa' in collaboration with the' Catholic Priests serving at Nochchiyagama. They expressed their appreciation with glowing tributes addressed to Very Rev, Fr. Anthony Humor Pinto SDB, and to the Salesian Fathers working in Sri Lanka.
"Sri Priyadharshanaramaya" temple is situated at Palugollagama, Megodawe­wa, a small hamlet at 'Yakalla, Galenbindunuwe-wa', a remote village in the North Central Province. There are about 60 fami­lies as members serving and served by the temple. Assuming duties in 1998, the Ven. Thera had initiated a Pirivena for the student monks and the 'samaneras', the novices to the Buddha Sasana. The Pirivena which began with 16 novices now has about 27 of them.
Very Rev. Fr. Anthony H. Pinto, Provincial of the Sale­sian community in Sri Lanka said that it was a. donation from his Congregation. This offering t the pinkama is not something purely personal but a donation from my Con­gregation. We are celebrat­ing the Golden Jubilee of the presence of Our Congrega­tion in Sri Lanka. This is one way of extending our frater­nal love towards the other religions. Converting the Buddhists does not motivate us but we are keen to see that they live a better life as Bud­dhists, he said.
Accepting the Sangawasa the incumbent Monk of the temple Ven. Udadeniye Wimalagnana Thera, who is also the Parivenadhyakshaka and Kruthyadhikari, of the Sri Gnaniswara Pirivena said that he was very grateful to the Rev. Fr. Humer Pinto who visited the temple and understood the need and proposed to the Congregation of the Don Bosco Fathers who had positively responded to his request.
He said that after assuming duties in 1998 as chief monk of the temple, he initiated the Pirivena in 2004 to provide education to the 15 novices, but could not get the centre registered, as there was no proper hostel and toilets. He wanted to get over this obstacle and made appeals to everyone he knew but he was unable to get the support he wanted.
Ven. Wimalagnana Thero explained that he had been introduced to Fr Pinto by another monk. "I told Fr Pinto about my need and invited him to `come and see` the temple. He visited the temple and saw the situation in which the novice monks live, and promised to provide a good hostel with facilities. Fr Pinto kept his word. He not only sent bricks and mortar but also got a group of Tamil Hindu students to lay the foundations for the future hostel".
"Instead of extending sup­port, sad to say, 12 petitions had gone against the setting up of the Pirivena. The petitions were not from laymen or Catholics. But it was from a member of our Buddha Sasana. I am happy to say that while I was looking for assistance Ven. Henepola Seewaka Thera, one of my brother monks who lives in a very far away temple encouraged me saying that a Catholic priest residing at Don Bosco, Nochchjyagama would help me. He was generous enough to introduce me' to Rev. Fr., Anthony Pinto whom I had not known. Fr. Pinto had helped a Elapathgama temple which comes within the Wilachchiya Provincial Sec­retariat area too.
I told Fr. Pinto about my need and I invited to him to the temple. He listened to my plea and promised to help me. Having visited the temple and after identifying the location to construct the toilets, he saw a group of novices sitting uncomfortably and studying in a tiny room with no facilities. "Hamuduruwane, the boys I look after in my hostel have better facilities. Don't be worried, I will make arrangements to give a good hostel to these student monks", Fr. Pinto lamented.
Fr. Pinto kept his word. He not only sent bricks and mortar but also got a group of Sinhala and Tamil students of the Don Bosco School to lay the foundation for the future hostel to the Buddhist Monks. Thus the hostel opened, is a result of dedication of people belonging to three different reli­gions practiced in Sri Lanka, and two major ethnic groups. "Some accuse us over our close association with the Catholic priests, bringing them to the temple: yard and receiving their generous help. The Catholic priests seek nothing in return. Those against religious tolerance and living in harmony try to twist the help offered by the Catholic priests and religious as one step towards Christianizing, the temple and the Buddhists. It is sheer nonsense, "the Thera said.
This Sangawasaya is meant for the future monks of the Sasasia: who will receive their training at this temple. It is the Buddhists who will benefit from the charity of the Catholics shown through this humanly; tarian act. At no point the Catholic priests tried to impress upon us that their assistance is tied to a rope and which controls our thinking. We have never heard anyone say in this part of the country that Catholic Church has approached them with help to win them to the Catholic faith, the Thera emphasized.
Speaking about Rev. Fr. Pinto, Ven. Kongodamulle Gnanasiri Thera chief incumbent of Angurukaramulle Rajamaha Viharaya said that his spirit of service to the Buddha Sasana was mani­fested from the time of his priestly formation days. Fr. Pinto as a religious brother used to visit our temple with a projector and films suited for the young novice monks to entertain them. He had a approval of the monk of the temple and he had the blessing, the support from the Superiors of his Religious Congregation. Ven. Gnanasiri Thero observed that although the donation of the hostel was something new to the area, Catholic priests have been helping Buddhists in other parts of the country. "We both, the Saffron robe and the White cassock, have worked together against evils in our areas. We have shown that we could do marvels by getting together". We appreciate Rev. Fr. Jansz who motivated Fr. Pinto and showed him the path he should follow to make the concept of religious amity, a reality We are benefiting from those principles.
Ven, Wehlioya Damminna Thera said the Don Bosco Institution at Nochchiyagama was a great help to the Buddhist youth of the are and the Buddhists and greatly benefited by the work of Salesian Fathers.
Nation Building Minister S. M. Chandrasena said the event was historical and this sort of activities should receive the attention of the media. He said that the donation was a sign of religious amity and said that we should appreciate such noble acts of the Catholics in this country.
Former Chief Minister of the North Central Province Berty Premalal underscored the value of good deeds and said that he considered himself fortunate to have participated in an event, which he witnessed for the first time in his life.
Sri Lanka belongs to all and can adhere to the religions and faiths of one's choice. The State respect the freedom of worship and that has been guaranteed by our Constitution. The Catholic priests and the Don Bosco Fathers have set an example for us to follow. We are grateful these Catholic priests for their outstanding contribution, he added.
[ By Fr. Sunil De Silva - 08.08.2008 ]