The Most Venerable Mahanayake Thera of the Lanka Amarapura Dharma Rakshitha Nikaya, Trincomalee Ananda Maha Thera, visited the Peliyagoda Vidyalankara Pirivena on April 9 to review the progress of a Tamil language education programme initiated by the Dharmavijaya Foundation. The programme, launched two months ago with 31 student monks, aims to bridge linguistic divides and promote national reconciliation by training Buddhist monks to deliver sermons in Tamil.
Approved by the Most Venerable Welamitiyawe Sri Gnanarathana Thera, the course enables both in-person and remote participation, providing monks from distant regions the opportunity to join online. The programme is structured as a year-long course with a focus on Tamil language proficiency tailored to Dhamma preaching.
The initiative is supported by Rajakaya Pandita Radaliyadde Seelananda Thera, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Education (NIE), and Tamil scholar Professor Vajira Prabhath Wijesinghe. It also seeks to encourage deeper understanding of Buddhist philosophy among Tamil-speaking communities in Sri Lanka and abroad.
Assistant Director of the Pirivena Division of the Ministry of Education, Dhammika Lalith, acknowledged the programme’s contribution to fostering inter-ethnic harmony and highlighted its alignment with national education policy. He noted that the course opens pathways for higher education in Tamil, including access to institutions such as the University of Jaffna, and may help address the shortage of Tamil language teachers in Pirivena institutions.
During the review visit, the Mahanayake Thera highlighted the significance of the programme in strengthening communication and understanding between communities in the North and South of Sri Lanka. He also emphasized the potential for outreach to Tamil-speaking populations in India and around the world.
The Chairman of the Dharmavijaya Foundation, Isuru Thilakawardena, recognized the contributions of all involved, particularly Professor Vajira Prabath. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks from Radaliyadde Seelananda Thera, expressing appreciation for the support provided by the Vidyalankara Parivenadhipathi and the continued teaching efforts of Professor Prabath. Classes are set to resume following the Sinhala and Tamil New Year break.
