In accordance with the decision of His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Bahrain organized “Tripitakabhivandana Week” to mark the declaration of the Theravada Tripitaka, the sacred scripture of Buddhism, as a World Heritage in order to list the Tripitaka with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Memory of the World Register. Since there is no resident Buddhist Priest/Monk in Bahrain, the Embassy coordinated with Barbar Temple in Bahrain to have the religious observances and presence of Most Venerable Sammana Nayaka Ven. Dehiwala Chandavisuddhi Thero in order to commemorate the “Tripitaka Week” from 16th to 23rd March 2019 and to invoke blessings for recognition of Tripitaka by UNESCO under the Memory of World Index.
The program, which was one full day, was held at the Barbar Temple Bahrain on 22nd March 2019 under the patronage of the Sri Lankan Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Dr. A. Saj U. Mendis. Since it was a Friday, a holiday in Bahrain and two days after Madin Full Moon Poya Day, a large number of Sri Lankan nationals, well over 200, were present and were observing sil.
Addressing the gathering the Most Venerable Thero applauded the move initiated by the President and the Government of Sri Lanka to declare the Theravada Tripitaka as a National Heritage and to furthering the initiative to inscribe it as a World Heritage under the UNESCO. The Most Venerable Thero accentuated the history of making Theravada Tripitaka into the written form in the 1st century BCE during the reign of Valagamba of Anuradhapura. In addition to that the Most Venerable Thero, particularly, mentioned on the significance and vitality of declaring Theravada Tripitaka as a World Heritage under UNESCO and commended the timely and befitting decision taken by the Government under the leadership of His Excellency the President. Barbar Temple, along with the Embassy, also profiled a comprehensive video footage of the “Tripitaka Week” received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In the opening remarks, Ambassador Dr. Mendis much-admired the initiative taken by the President to proclaim the Theravada Tripitaka as a National Heritage and subsequently commencing the process to declare it as a World Heritage. He further commended the assistance and cooperation extended by the Presidential Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka in arranging this iconic event across the world. Similarly, Ambassador Dr. Mendis extended his gratitude to Most Venerable Sammana Nayaka Ven. Dehiwala Chandavisuddhi Thero for the special remarks delivered on the history of Theravada Tripitaka in the current world and for spiritual sermon including the invoking of blessings. The Head of Chancery, Sandun Liyanwila, in his brief address, highlighted and appreciated the stewardship and leadership of Thushara Gallage, Custodian of the Barbar Temple in arranging this seminal event in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The event was followed by an almsgiving for the Maha Sanga and the large number of people who had observed Sil as well as who were present at the Barbar Temple in Bahrain.
The event of commemoration of “Tripitaka Week” in predominantly in an Islam nation is unique in nature and in substance, thus manifesting the tolerance and forbearance of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Bahrain may probably be the only Islam nation to have commemorated “Tripitaka Week”.
