Dr. Damenda Porage is a unique individual of many facets. He is a scholar of international repute, an intellectual, a specialist in Theravada and Tibetan Buddhism, an educator and a public speaker. He is also an unofficial SAARC ambassador in his capacity as the chairman of FBB, the president of SLTBBS and the Deputy Secretary General of IBC and the CO-editor of Satipatthana Buddhist quarterly whose work promotes bilateral and multilateral cooperation between and among countries in the region in the service of Buddhism. Dr. Porage is also a part of a collective which strives unremittingly to make the true essence of Buddhism accessible to the rest of the world.
A man on a mission, Dr Porage was interested in welfare of the less fortunate and religion even as a school child. Among the many great men and women who have left their marks in his life, Dr. Damenda Porage identifies the influence of the great humanist E.W. Adikaram who sought to promote vegetarianism and a life free of addictive drugs as of paramount importance. Young Damenda received his primary education from Wesley College, Colombo, and then he moved on to Isipathana College, Colombo for his secondary education. He received his first degree from the University of Kelaniya and then he continued his postgraduate studies at the University of Peradeniya. Dr. Porage completed his doctoral studies at Lyndon State University, USA.
As an educator, Dr. Porage was passionately involved in bettering the fields of both lay and clerical education at both school and university levels. In addition, in his capacity as a teacher and a lecturer, he looked into both spiritual and social welfare activities of those under his care. A man of humility and compassion, Dr. Porage is amply supported in his endeavours by his life companion Dr. Shermila Milroy who actively campaigns to promote Buddhism among women in the region.
In addition, in 2011, Dr. Porage laid the Foundation for Buddhist Brotherhood which aimed to promote Buddhism around the world. Consequently, he became a founding member of the Global Buddhist Congregation after attending its inaugural meeting held in New Delhi. Dr. Porage was appointed as an executive committee member of International Buddhist Confederation in the 2013. Buddhists all over the world are offered a common meeting ground by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC). The mission of IBC 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.”
Consequent to the significance of his chosen path, Dr. Porage was awarded the rare honour of meeting His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in person in 2015. Inspired by the great religious leader’s vision, Dr. Porage launched the Sri Lankan Tibetan Buddhist Brotherhood Society (SLTBB) in the same year.
On 10th and 11th of December 2017, at the Governing Council and General Assembly of IBC held in New Delhi presided by Senior Maha sangha and leaders from all over the world including India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan, Cambodia, United States, United Kingdom, Myanmar, Bhutan, Laos and South Korea, Dr. Damenda Porage, the president of SLTBB, was appointed to its governing council as the Deputy Secretary General for the next three years. From Sri Lanka, He was the only lay dignitary whose contribution to the propagation of the study and defense of Buddhism thus recognized at this august forum. Others who were similarly acknowledged were Most ven. Prof. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Anunayaka Thero, the Chancellor of Sri Jayawardenepura University, Most ven. Prof. Pallekande Rathanasara Anunayaka Thero and Most Ven. Dr. Walpola Wimalagnana Anunayaka Thero.
Taking his mission a step further, Dr. Porage created the first Pali and Sanskrit Cultural Exchange Centre in the world Heiyanthuduwa Sri Lanka which is birth place of Anagarika Dharmapala. The inaugural Pali and Sanskrit International Bhikkhu Exchange Programme (PSIBEP) was held on the 27th of December 2022 in Bodha Gaya, India with the aim of consolidating Buddhism. Sri Lanka hosted the second phase of PSIBEP on the 2nd May 2023. Dr. Damenda Porage guided by the Most Ven. Dr. Waskaduwe Mahindawanshe Mahanayake Thera, Most Ven. Dr. Madampagama Assaji Anunayake Thera, Most Ven. Dr. Kithalagama Hemasara Anunayake Thera, Assisted by Senior Prof. Chandima Wijebandara and Dr. Shermila Milroy brought together the Maha Sangha from India, Thailand and Sri Lanka through this initiative.
PSIBEP aims to provide the Buddhist Monks visiting Sri Lanka the opportunity to take part in a series of academic sessions on the Pali Buddhist tradition and the history of Sri Lanka and visit many of the Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka. The opening ceremony of the second phase the auspicious programme was held at Rajaguru Sri Subhuthi Raja Maha Viharaya, Waskaduwa on the 2nd of May this year under patronage of the Mahanayake of Sambuddha Sasanodaya Nikaya, Most Ven. Dr. Waskaduwe Mahindawanshe Mahanayake Thero. Forty-five Buddhist priests from Tibetan Buddhist Center Singapore, IBC were co-host, TBC president Ms.Veenee Ng and South Eastern Asia coordinator of His Holiness the Dalai Lama personally attendant this event. Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Tibetan Monks form India as well as a number of lay representatives participated in the programme.
A Multi-Lingual Scholarly Symposium on “Buddhist Commitment to Humanity” which coincided with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s 88th birthday was held on the 6th of July was organized by the Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies, the Department of Sanskrit and Eastern Studies, and the Department of Philosophy of the University of Kelaniya in collaboration with Dr. Damenda Porage, the President of the Foundation for Buddhist Brotherhood, Sri Lanka and Deputy Secretary General of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) along with the support of the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Social Sciences. The symposium aimed at studying the contribution of Buddhism to environmental protection while exploring the ways and means of utilizing the core principles of Tibetan and Theravada Buddhism to develop humanity, assume an active role in environmental protection and fosterer cultural cooperation. The symposium also focused on promoting peace, environmental protection, and culture as its subthemes.
Moreover, Dr. Porage was a part of the initiative to take a sapling of the Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi to Nashik in the state of Maharashtra, India. On the 24th of October with the blessings of Atamasthanadipati Most Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thero the Sacred Sapling was planted ceremoniously.
Coordinated to bring Kapilavastu Holy Relics that were enshrined in Waskaduwa Sri Subhuti Maha Vihara to bless the site. Dr. Porage has done much to promote cordial relations between India and Sri Lanka in his capacity as a cultural ambassador.
On the 4th of November 2023, the inauguration of the newly built Dhamma hall of Sri Isipathanarama Vihara in Kotahena, Colombo, was celebrated to coincide with the birthday of Dr. Porage. A large number of Buddhist priests including Most Ven. Professor Pallekande Ratanasara Mahanayake Thero, , Most Ven. Snr. Prof. Kandegoda Wimaladhamma Mahanayake Thero, Most Ven. Dr. Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thero, Most Ven. Kithalagama Hemsasara Anunayake Thero and Most Ven. Dr. Madampagama Assaji Anunayake Thero, the Chief Incumbent of Sri Isipathanarama Vihara, attended the opening ceremony. Catholic, Hindu, Muslim, and other religious leaders as well as lay dignitaries such as the former speaker Mr. Karu Jayasuriya and the lay president of Amarapura Nikaya, Mr. Ajitha De Soysa joined to mark the occasion.
On the same day, at a special charity event organized by the Dayaka Sabhawa led by the Most Ven. Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thero of Sri Subhuthi Maha Vihara where the Kapilavastu Holy Relics were enshrined Dr. Damenda Porage received the blessings of the Holy Relics prior to addressing more than four hundred children and parents. To mark the occasion Dr. Porage offered a precious casket made of gold studded with diamonds to place the Holy Relics.
In his capacity as a prominent member of the Buddhist community, here and abroad, Dr. Damenda Porage has funded more than 100 contributed on Buddhism, provided foreign scholarships and bursaries for both lay and clergy, and facilitated bhikkhu education.
©Satipatthana Magazine