“Buddhism’s Response to COVID 19 Pandemic”

The National Council for International Affairs of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress (ACBC) will be organising the International Buddhist Conference on the7th and 8th November from 2.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. Sri Lanka time via zoom.   

The theme of the Conference will be “Buddhism’s Response to COVID-19 Pandemic” and the Anusasana at the Inauguration of the Conference on the 7th November at 2.00 p.m. will be delivered by Most Venerable Professor Kotapitiye Rahula Anunayaka Thero of the Kotte Srikalyani Samagree Dhamma Maha Sangha Sabha & Main Secretary, Professor Pali and Buddhist Studies Division, Peradeniya University. The Government of Burma awarded the highest Honorary Degree “Aggamahapanditha” award to the Venerable Anunayaka Thero recently.   
The welcome address will be delivered by Prof. Lakshman R. Watawala Chairman National Council for International Affairs of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress (ACBC) and Vice President ACBC. Thereafter the President of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress and Vice President of the World Federation of Buddhists Mr. Jagath Sumathipala will deliver his address.   

The first Session on Buddha’s Teachings to overcome COVID-19 pandemic will be chaired byHonourable Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, PC,Judge of the Supreme Court of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. 
This session will cover three presentations relating to the topic.   

The first presentation on the Rathana Suthraya - A discourse to overcome disasters will be delivered by Ven. Prof. Medagampitiye Wijithadhamma Thero, Prof. of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Sri Jayawardenapura.
The next presentation will be on the Girimananda Suthraya - Ten perceptions for Healing of Suffering delivered byProf. Sumanapala Galmangoda Course Coordinator, Dean, Faculty of Buddhist Therapeutic Systems of Medicine, Dean Faculty of Graduate Studies, Chief Medical Officer, Buddhist Ayurvedic Counseling and Psychiatry, Nagananda Teaching Hospital.

The final presentation Coping with Pandemic and Overcoming Suffering from a Buddhist Perspective will be delivered by Dr. Tavivat PuntarigvivatVisiting Professor at the Thai Studies Programme, PridiBanomyong International College, Thammasat University in Bangkok on a research study undertaken by him.   
Thereafter a panel discussion will follow and will be moderated by Prof. Chandima Wijebandara, former Vice Chancellor University of Sri Jayawadenapura and the panelists will be Dr. Rathnasiri Rathnayaka,Senior Lecturer, Department of Buddhist Thought Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Kelaniya, Dr. Praneeth Abeysundera Senior Lecturer of Sociology and Anthropology Sri Jayawardenapura University, Past President All Ceylon Buddhist Congress.   

Ven. Senior Prof. Uturawela Dhammaratana Thero,Department of Pali, Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka Ven. Vajiraramaye Nanasiha TheroPatron Servants of the Buddha Bhante Mahinda Founder and Spiritual Director of the Aloka Foundation, Malaysia. He is also the abbot of the Aloka Meditation Centre in Australia, founder and Spiritual Director of the Australian Buddhist Mission, Inc.and   
Ven. Halayale Wimalarathana TheroPresident of the International Buddhist Foundation (IBF), Geneva, Switzerland.   

On the 2nd Day - 8th November the conference will be held via zoom from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm   
The theme of Session 2 is Right Mindfulness and Meditation the Buddhist Way to Overcome Covid -19 Pandemic.
This session will be chaired by Mr. Deepal Sooriarachchi Mindfulness Teacher Post Graduate Institute of Management University of Sri Jayawardenapura who will introduce the theme of the session. 
The keynote address on Right Mindfulness the Buddhist Way to overcome COVID -19 Pandemic will be delivered by Most Ven. Dhammajiva Maha Thero, Chief Meditation Master Meetirigala Nissarana Vanaya.   

The next address on the Power of meditation to relieve stress, strain and increase resilience - Neuropsychiatric perspective will be delivered by Dr. Kumari Galboda MBBS (Colombo), MRCPsych (UK), MSC (Colombo), PhD (UK)Consultant Psychiatrist in Old age Psychiatry, Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Rochford Hospital, Essex, UK   
The 3rd address on The Four Noble Truths and Noble Eightfold Path - Liberation from Suffering will be delivered by Ven. Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thero, Head London Buddhist Vihara and Chief Sanganayaka Great Britain. 

The final address will be delivered on Right Mindfulness - A Buddhist survival kit in the pandemic by Ajahn Sujato Co-founder Suttacentral.net Sydney 
This will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Mr. Nalaka Hewamadduma Educator and Author, Mental skills development.

The panelists will comprise of:   
Ven. Panadure Chandraratne Thero Deputy Abbot Meethirigala Nissarana Vanaya Meetirigala, 
Rev Dr. Bhante Saranapala – The Urban Buddhist Monk, Founder and President “Canada A Mindful and Kind Nation”, West End Buddhist Temple and Meditation Centre Mississauga, Canada.  
Dr. Sumana Ratnayaka Retired Senior Lecturer Pali and Buddhist Studies University of Peradeniya, Studied at Kelaniya, Uppsala, Oxford, Lund and Peradeniya Universities, with a doctorate in the subject of Mindfulness: An exploratory study of the Buddhist Meditation in Sri Lanka and currently resident in 
Lund, Sweden.   

Ven. Rathanapala Mahawela Assistant Lecturer Pali and Buddhist Studies University of Peradeniya. 
Dr. Sunil Kariyakarawana Buddhist Advisor to Her Majesty’s British Armed Services.

Those who wish to register could email [email protected] on or before Friday 6th November