University for Dhamma School Teachers

Asiantribune.com, Dec 21, 2007

Colombo, Sri Lanka -- A University is to be set up shortly to provide higher education to Daham Pasal Teachers, disclosed Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama, at a meeting held at the Hataraliyadda T.B. Ilangaratne National School on Sunday.

The meeting was held to mark the distribution of sewing machines among a group of women for self employment under the Jathika Saviya Programme and books and educational equipment among daham pasalas and pre-schools under a programme sponsored by the Amunugama Foundation.

Dr. Amunugama said the proposed new university would provide opportunities for daham pasala teachers to study languages and Buddhist philosophy in-depth and gain further training in teaching methods. Dr. Amunugama said daham pasala teachers were rendering an invaluable service by imparting Dhamma knowledge to the children and promoting discipline and moral and spiritual values among the young generation. As such they should be given all assistance and encouragement to further their knowledge and skills.

There should be social discipline if a country was to march forward in the sphere of development creating good ideas and attitudes among children concurrently with the development of talents and skills was a need of the times.

The daham pasala could be considered as an oasis which provides all these facilities. Today we are able to talk about a proud history because there was moral and spiritual development among ancient society side by side with high talents and skills.

Dr. Amunugama recalled that daham pasala teachers were receiving uniform material and dhamma schools were receiving free school books due to a proposal made by him during his tenure as Finance Minister. He said late Ven. Weliwita Sangharaja Thera who was born in Hataraliyadda rendered a great service towards the Buddhist revival in Sri Lanka and as such Hataraliyadda had a proud heritage.

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University for Dhamma School Teachers

Asiantribune.com, Dec 21, 2007