The Executive committee, the Governing council and the General Assembly of the International Buddhist Confederation was held in New Delhi on the 27th & 28th November 2023 with the participation of Buddhist scholars and leaders from India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan, Cambodia, the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea and 39 other countries in the world
At the General Assembly Meeting of the IBC Dr. Damenda Porage, the President of SLTBBS, has been re-elected as Deputy Secretary General and an Executive Committee Member for a period of three years yet again. This year’s General Assembly Meeting made of IBC members who have been with it since its inception including the patriarchs of Buddhist sangha community, senior monks and Dhamma practitioners assembled with the express purpose of electing the office bearers for the world body for the next three years.
At the same conference Dr. Shermila Milroy who was an Executive Committee member, was appointed as the Dhamma Secretary (Sri Lanka).
This time, representing Sri Lanka, Most Venerable Dr Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thero, Prof Palkekande Rathanasara Anunayake Thero, Dr Assaji Anunayake Thero, Dr Kithalagama Hemasara Nayake Thero and Dr Wetara Mahinda Thero joined this high profile international gathering.
At present IBC is the largest international Buddhist organisation in the globe with 39 member countries and over 300 Buddhist organisations.
The mission of the newly elected office bearers is “to gather the collective wisdom of Buddhists around the world to speak with a united Buddhist voice; to make Buddhist values part of global engagement while working to preserve and promote Buddhist heritage traditions and practices.” IBC currently has a membership drawn from 39 countries.
By Anupama Godakanda
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