270 Sri Lankans will be ordained for short durations in Thailand this year to mark the 270th anniversary of the Siam Nikaye. Ven. Pharsamu Pairoj Wonsomsri Thera of Wat Pa Samdet Temple in Chiang Mai will initiate first batch of 50 Sri Lankans to Bhikkhu Hood for a period of four months on July 28, the birthday of Thai King Maha Maha Vajira-long-korn. Ven. Wonsomsri held a discussion with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at Temple Trees yesterday (June 12) and explained that Thai Buddhists have a great regard for Sri Lanka and the tradition which commenced 270 years ago by Ven. Upali Mahathera who performed Upasampada (Higher Ordination) for a group of Sinhala monks and established the Siam Sector of Sangha in Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister said Sri Lanka is always grateful to Thailand for assisting the revival of Buddhism and to Most Venerable Upali Nayaka Maha Thera from Siam for reviving the Sangha order in Sri Lanka.
Appreciating the plans to ordain monks for the anniversary, the Prime Minister said the practice of meditation needs to be introduced at Daham Pasalas to inculcate discipline among young students.
Most Venerable Upali Maha Thera arrived in Sri Lanka in 1753 on a request by King Rama of Siam, now Thailand, to help the Most Venerable Saranankara Sangaraja of Sri Lanka to revive the Sangha Order of Sri Lanka and ordained Sangha, commencing the Siam Sect.
Ven. Namaldeniye Dhammasumana Thera briefed the Prime Minister about the two-day initiation workshop conducted for 50 selected persons who will travel to Thailand next month to become monks.
Ven. Balangoda Dhammadhaja Thera and Thai Buddhists Banlue Supakit, Sirikron Chewpreecha, Viraya Warith Jorost and Nilanka Fernando also took part in the meeting.