ABOUT US

It is not necessary to explain the services rendered by Dhamma Schools to the majority of Sri Lankans who have got inspiration from the temple and the church. We, the young or the elders, have a sense of devotion towards the Dhamma School which strives to create a good younger generation.

The Sri Wimalasiri English Dhamma School at Asokaramaya, Polpitimukalana, is just two-and-a-half kilometres off Kandana town towards Gampaha. The Dhamma School renders yeoman service to the community by teaching the children Buddhism in English.

The Venerable Uturumagala Nandasiri Nayaka Thero, chief incumbent of the temple and venerable Beligaswelle Wijithasiri Thero, the chief disciple, are both advisors to the Dhamma school.

It was heartening to observe the present developed state of the Dhamma school which was started with the blessings of the two chief monks with twenty students and within the same year, the number of students had increased up to eighty.

Venerable Polpitimukalane Pannasiri Thero, the pioneer of the Dhamma School, is a former English instructor at Buddhist and Pali University and an assistant lecturer in sociology. He said that the Dhamma School was started in order to produce students who were well-versed in Buddha Dhamma and English and of course, with a good discipline. "I was born and bred in this area and obtained higher education from the University of Peradeniya in the English medium, which made me understand the place English occupies in the modern world. I got my primary education from the village school and later was able to study English under very good teachers. I did it facing a lot of hardship so I fully understand the problems students of our area could face in this sphere," the thero said.

"I invited some well-educated English teachers of the area and started this Dhamma School in January 2000. First and foremost the students were given a basic knowledge of English in order to understand Buddhism. Then we directly started off to teach Buddhism in English. As the students had learnt the vocabulary of what they saw in the temple, such as Buddha images, Pagoda, Bodhi tree, oil lamp, incense, etc., they were able to understand what was being taught to them.

"Today, the number of students has increased up to 200. The Dhamma School, which started with just one class, has now developed into a six-class institute. I have got about thirty staff members who are very keen to develop this institution. It’s a magnanimous gesture on their part," Ven. Pannasiri thero said.

There is a Sinhala medium Dhamma school too, which has a long history. It has more than 600 students.

The thero observed that if the students continued to study in that manner up to the final test of the Dhamma School, he did not need teachers from outside for the lower classes. When it came to higher classes, he expected to get lecturers in the universities to teach in the Dhamma School. The principal thero added that he expected to offer foreign scholarships to the students who excel in their studies. He also appreciated the co-operation of the parents to make his effort a success.