A series of events to mark the centenary year of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress (ACBC) will be held at the BMICH on December 21 and 22, ACBC President Jagath Sumathipala said at a media briefing in Colombo last week.
The ACBC was set up in 1919 under the leadership of Sir Baron Jayathilake. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is scheduled to participate at the ceremony as the chief guest while many other distinguished guests representing the world Buddhist community are to attend the event.
The Congress is also willing to bestow special honours to several individuals including Professor Venerable Ellawala Medhananda Thera, Venerable Bodagama Chandima Thera, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Professor Praneeth Abeyasundara and retired Major General Jaliya Nammuni who contributed to the betterment of the Buddha Sasana.
In parallel to the event, a conference on World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth will be held on December 22 at the Manelwatta Nagananda Buddhist University.
A forum comprising representatives of the World Buddhist University will be held at the same location on that day.
The ACBC also plans to form a Buddhist Academic Board to increase the standard of Buddhist education in local universities.
Meanwhile ACBC is also planning to launch two coffee-table books on Sri Lankan Buddhist heritage.
Co-Secretaries of ACBC Sunil Sarath Kuragama and Ranjith Ekanayake were also present at the media briefing.