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" W O R L D T I B E T D A Y I N S R I L A N K A "
(Sri Lanka | July 6, 2009)
Ravindra Ranasingha of Friends of Tibet (Sri Lanka)
Letter from Sri Lanka:
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Date: Tue, Jul 7, 2009 at 1:27 PM
From: Ravindra Ranasinha ravindra.ranasinha@friendsoftibet.org
Subject: Sri Lanka Celebrated World Tibet Day on July 06th 2009
To: Friends of Tibet support@friendsoftibet.org
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Dear all,
Friends of Tibet (Sri Lanka) celebrated the birthday of HH Dalai Lama on July 6, 2009 which is a Full Moon Poya Day at my place with a participation of 40 young and old people. I must say for the first time I experienced such a wonderful response from the people who actively involved in a dialogue on the Theravada and Mahayana Buddhist traditions and the drawbacks in our spiritual life in Sri Lanka where Buddha's word was given to be protected. The dialogue was initially commenced in delineating the differences between Theravada and Mahayana practices and then moved on to the question whether we Sri Lankans really uphold the values taught by Buddha.
All those who attended the ceremony lighted oil lamps and wished long life to HH Dalai Lama. I think you can remember the ground floor in my house with the big hall and there only we had this celebration. The oil lamps were lighted in the middle of the hall and people sat in a circle so that everybody could see each other. The dialogue was friendly and an assurance was given by the crowd that we need to engage more in such dialogues. In fact, I told the gathering that it is a tragic thing to hear the Buddhist Monks promoting war and now have suppressed the Tamil cause. And I compared what the Tibetans undergo at the moment with that of the Tamil struggle.
I had a powerpoint presentation on Tibet and I was able to show it to the crowd. I was able to show them on the Dalai Lama and the nonviolent struggle he is leading. Also I had a translation of my article which appeared in a Sinhala newspaper on His Holiness the Dalai Lama's views on non-violence which I read to the crowd. This whole event was something that inspired everybody to accept the struggle of the Tibetans.
One child recited several poems by Ven Sikhim Mahinda whom they consider had arrived to Sri Lanka from Tibet. My note on Ven Sikkim Mahinda clearly shows how he inspired the Sinhala people to fight against the British. This was discussed at the gathering and was shown the need to support the Tibetan cause through means of nonviolent action.
Good Luck! May All Nations Unite With The Tibetan Struggle For Freedom!
Ravindra Ranasinha
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Friends of Tibet (Sri Lanka)
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Friends of Tibet is a people's movement to keep alive the issue of Tibet through direct action. Our activities are aimed at ending China's occupation of Tibet and the suffering of the Tibetan people. Friends of Tibet supports the continued struggle of the Tibetan people for independence. Friends of Tibet is also one of the principal organisers of World Tibet Day around the world. To know more, visit: www.friendsoftibet.org
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http://www.friendsoftibet.org/srilanka/
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Friends of Tibet is a people's movement to keep alive the issue of Tibet through direct action. Our activities are aimed at ending China's occupation of Tibet and the suffering of the Tibetan people. Friends of Tibet supports the continued struggle of the Tibetan people for independence.
