Karuna Dhara Launched for the New Year

Celebrating the 91 years of Compassion of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the first phase of ‘Karuna Dhara’ project, launched by the Foundation for Buddhist Brotherhood led by Dr. Damenda Porage aiming at a united Buddhist world with humanity at the forefront, held on the 1st of January 2026 at the Pali and Sanskrit Cultural Exchange Center, Heiyanthuduwa, Sri Lanka.

As its initial step, long-life prayers were offered to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the icon of universal compassion, together with a protective chanting (pirith sajjhāyana) invoking well-being for the New Year for all sentient and celestial beings. Ten Bhikkhus presided, and the chanting took place in the 1000 Buddhas Holy Chamber at the Center.

Subsequently, as the project’s second step, a program was held to provide financial aid to 11 Buddhist temples in the area which were heavily affected by ‘Ditwa’ storm in November 2025. In the first stage of this effort, the Foundation donated financial assistance to three selected temples.

The third step of the Karuna Dhara project was a program to provide educational aid to 27 schoolchildren from 27 families in Hiyantuduwa area who were affected by the disaster.

The event was coordinated by Dr. Sharmila Milroy, Registrar of the Center. The chief incumbents of local Buddhist temples, Ms. Mala Surangani, Buddhist Affairs Coordinator at the Biyagama Divisional Secretariat, and a large number of local residents participated in the program.