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Ven Ajahn Brahmali’s Dhamma Talk on Medin Poya
Ven Ajahn Brahmali, residing in Bodhinyana Monastery, Western Australia, will be in Sri Lanka in March this year from the 14th to 24th. He will, as his preceptor monk Ajahn Brahmavamso has done on several occasions, address those interested at the BMICH on March 24, which is the Medin Poya day. The programme will be from 7.00 to 11.00 a m, consisting of a dhamma talk, a brief meditation session, and answering of questions from those present. The talk given by Ajahn Brahmali will be summarized and translated to Sinhala; so also questions asked and answers given.
Free passes for collection are available at Sri Sambuddhathva Jayanthi Mandiraya, Thunmulla, Colombo 5; Buddhist Cultural Centre, Anderson Road, Nedimala; Samayawardhana
Bookshop; Buddhist Congress, 380, Baudhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7; and at Sarasavi Bookshop, One Galle Face.
Apart from this talk to the general public, Ven Ajahn Brahmali’s principal engagement during his short visit here will be a 10-day retreat of meditation; sutta clarification and discussion at the Paramita International Buddhist Meditation Centre in Kadugannawa for 60 members of the Venerable Sangha – both bhikkhus and bhikkhunis. A small number of lay experienced meditators too will be accommodated.
Biographical sketch
Ajahn Brahmali was born in Norway in 1964. In his early 20s he visited Japan and was introduced to Buddhism and meditation. Deeply interested, he devoted much time to learning more of what the Buddha taught and in quiet reflection and meditation. This was while reading for degrees in engineering and finance. On completion of his academic studies, he moved to Britain and resided in the Amaravati and Chithurst Monasteries as an anagarika – (keeper of eight precepts). Meeting Ajahn Brahmavamso and listening to his teaching, he decided to travel to Australia and train in the Bodhinyana Monastery in Serpentine, near Perth, in Western Australia. This was in 1994. He was ordained in 1996; his preceptor being Ajahn Brahm. In 2015, on completion of twenty rains retreats, he was conferred the title ‘Maha Thera’ – Great Elder.
Ajahn Brahmali’s reputation as an expert in the Pali language and deep knowledge of the Suttas is internationally recognized. He has authored many essays inclusive of two on Dependent Origination and the treatise The Authenticity of Ancient Buddhist Texts, in collaboration with Bhante Sujato. Bhikkhu Bodhi who translated most of the Pali Canon into English for Wisdom Publications, referred to Ajahn Brahmali as one of his major helpers in his recent translation of ‘The Numerical Discourse of the Buddha’.
Ajahn Brahmali conducts Pali language classes and explanatory discourses on the Suttas to devotees of Bodhinyana Monastery. He is also a regular teacher at the Dhammaloka Centre in Perth. In 2014 and 2015, he and Ajahn Sujato led two courses on early Buddhism, Kamma and Rebirth.
The monastics of the Buddhist Society of Western Australia (BSWA) greatly appreciating his teaching, turn to him for clarification of Vinaya – monastic discipline rules. Added to his intellectual excellence is his practicality. He oversees the building and maintenance projects at both the Bodhinayana Monastery and the Hermit Hill property in Serpentine.
While his reputation as an exponent of Buddhism making the suttas clearer to monk and layperson spread worldwide, his teachings are recorded on YouTube and other electronic media and made available to all. He was also invited by countries, to mention but three: Singapore, Indonesia and Sri Lanka to share his knowledge and expertise with both the ordained and lay persons. And thus his visit to us: fortunate to all here of whatever religion; young and old.
For further enquiries, please contact: ajahnbrahmsociety@gmail.com
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
