The Ceylon Times: January 2019

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Tripitaka declared as a National Heritage.

National ceremony to officially declare the Tripitaka as a national heritage.

The national ceremony for declaring the ‘Tripitaka’ as a National Heritage is scheduled to be held on the Today (05th January 2019). The Cabinet of Ministers on Tuesday gave approval to declare Thripitakaya, which includes Buddhist teachings, as a national heritage.

Buddhasasana Ministry has issued a statement that all reproductions related to the Tripitaka should be done only under the supervision of the ministry. A Cabinet approval was granted under circular No. MB/01/05/2018-26

The national ceremony to proclaim the Theravada Tripitaka as a national heritage will be held at the historic Aluviharaya temple in Matale with the blessings of the Most Venerable 2,000 Buddhist Maha Sangha theros and under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena.

The Theravada Pitaka composed of the Sutra Pitaka, the Vinaya Pitaka and the abhidhamma Pitaka of Third Dhamma Sangayana was inherited to the island as a heritage at the 3rd century B.C. and the Buddhism that was inherited and nourished throughout centuries with the fullest patronage of the state. The Mahasangha including the Maharahath Theros preserved and secured the Tripitaka through the centuries amidst such challenges was declared in written form in thalapath (ola leaves) in the 1st century B.C. at Matale Aluvihara temple.

As an outcome of the visit of Arahath Mahinda Thera that took place in the 3rd centure B.C., Sri Lanka was blessed with the Tripitaka.
It's Contents were transmitted by oral tradition by the Maha Sanga. Later, for the first time, the Tripitaka was committing into writing on Ola leaves at Aluviharaya, Matale in the 1st century B.C. during King Walagamba's reign.
The Tripitaka written on Ola leaves was edited and issued in printed from in 1956 coinciding with Sri Sambuddha Jayanthiya under the guidance of Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Thera by an editorial panel lead by Ven. Labugama Lankananda Thera.