*Theme: ‘Buddhism for World Peace’
*Nearly 1000 representatives from 47 countries to participate
The inauguration of the 7th World Buddhist Summit, which is also the Supreme World Wide Buddhist Conference, will be held at Temple Trees today, Colombo under the theme ‘Buddhism for World Peace’.President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe are to grace the occasion.
Nearly a thousand representatives from 47 countries including all supreme leaders of main Buddhist schools of thought across five continents in the world will participate in the summit. The conference is held from November 2 to 7.
The objective of the conference is to establish solidarity among different schools of thought in Buddhism and advance forward together with strong passion towards the peaceful future through the propagation of Buddhism in the whole world.
The 7th World Buddhist Summit 2017 Organizing Committee Chairman Thilanga Sumathipala said extensive discussions with regards to matters relating to Buddhist countries will take place during the summit which will culminate in a ‘Colombo Declaration’.
“The representatives are to visit Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura and Sri Dhalada Maligawa in Kandy, during the course of their visit,” Sumathipala further explained.
He made these observations at a media brief held at Temple Trees last evening.
Secretary General of the World Buddhist Summit Most Venarable Weragoda Sarada Maha Nayake Thera observed that this summit records the largest number of Buddhist representatives at a single3 assembly.
Ven. Sarada Maha Nayake Thera further said the next summit which will be held in Japan, will conduct a Dharma Sangayanawa (a Buddhist Council). The Thera also pointed out that a university will soon be established under the patronage of Japan as a part of the next summit as well. The Buddhist University will provide free Buddhist education for bhikkus all over the globe.
Most Ven. Dr.Shinkai Kori, Vice President of the World Buddist Summit, Chief High priest of the Nenbutsushu Sampozan Muryojuji Temple, commended President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for the great enthusiasm shown by them to hold the 7th World Buddhist Summit a national ceremony in Sri Lanka.
Dr. Kori also pointed out that Sri Lanka is the most suitable country to hold such a conference since it has conserved pure Theravada Buddhism and has contributed much in spreading the Dhamma around the globe.
Dr.Kori also pointed out that the number of Buddhists in the world has increased from 370 million to 520 million in a very short time period.
Ven.Kazuyuki
Dejma, the Chief Secretary of the Buddhist Summit Muneyuki Suzuki and the Assistant Secretary
General of Buddhist Summit Noriyuki Fujii were also present at the media brief.