On October 27th The Dharmavijaya Foundation (DVF) marked its 34th year after establishment with a dane for fifteen monks led by the Patron, Ven Rajakiya Pandita Hakmana Sumanasiri Maha Thero at it headquarters, 380/7, Sarana Road, Colombo7. Along with marking the auspicious anniversary, merit was transferred to its Founder Thero and Trustees who are no more. Present were the President/DVF, Deshabandu Olcott Gunasekera and many of the Trustees plus a couple of invitees.

It was in 1969 that the most Ven Aggamahapandita Madihe Pannasiha Mahanayake Thera with a few dedicated Buddhist men and women decided to establish an organization not only to encourage the upholding and following of the Buddha’s tenets in adherence of his Teaching, starting from keeping the Five Precepts, to helping others less fortunate. As the Founder Thera stated: "Let us develop the country along with the moral development of Man."

The DVF has come a long way, very successfully, from its establishment on 27th October 1977 and incorporation by Parliamentary Act No 62 of 1979. Its social service extends far and wide: issue-related and geographically. Help ranges from giving succour to the sick, eye care, school books especially to medical students, nutrition education, computers, libraries, discouragement of alcohol and dangerous drug use, religious education to novice monks and much more. In times of national and regional crises, like the 2002 tsunami and localized landslips and floods, the DVF has been one of the first on the scene. This from the deep south of the Island to the north, spreading west and east.

The DVF has been fortunate in its donors both local and overseas with whose financial help Trusts have been instituted. Most of the work done is voluntary. To facilitate its activities a network of Dharmavijaya Samajayas have been established spreading over much of the country, based on the ancient practical concept of vihara, wewa and gama.

We echo the words of the President/DVF written as conclusion to his report for the decade 1999-2009: "May these efforts help in making this beautiful country of ours, with an unparalleled history and culture, become a beacon light to the rest of the world,

and thereby contribute towards the progress of humanity."

N P W

(October 29, 2011
The Island)