The Chairman of the Foundation for Buddhist Brotherhood celebrates his Birthday

The birthday of Dr. Damenda Porage, Honourary Chairman of the Foundation for Buddhist Brotherhood was on November 4, 2023, and this time he was able to celebrate it in a more special way. At the inauguration of the newly built Dhamma hall of the Sri Isipathanarama Vihara in Kotahena, Colombo, religious rites were performed and the birthday was celebrated amidst the blessings of the Maha Sangha. It is a historic moment in a way because it is the first birthday to be celebrated in the newly built preaching hall. He was also blessed to receive the blessings of a large number of laymen and clergies including Maha Sangha who had gathered at the ceremony. His mother Ms. Malathi Mangalika Wanigasekara, Dr. Shermila Milroy his wife, his son Devnaka Porage, and the staff of the Foundation for Buddhist Brotherhood participated in this event.

Around 50 Maha Sangha including Most Ven. Dr. Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thero, Most Ven. Snr.Prof. Kandegoda Wimaladhamma Mahanayake Thero, Most Ven. Professor Pallekande Ratanasara Mahanayake Thero, Most Ven. Kithalagama Hemsasara Anunayake Thero, attended the opening ceremony of the Dhamma hall of Sri Isipatanarama, where the Most Ven. Dr. Madampagama Assaji Anunayake Thero is the Chief Incumbent. Catholic, Hindu, Muslim, and other religious leaders also participated in this ceremony. Representing the lay party, former Speaker Mr. Karu Jayasuriya, the president of Amarapura Nikaya, Mr. Ajitha De Soysa, and many others participated.

During the opening ceremony of this preaching hall, many other meritorious deeds were also performed. That is, offering alms to the Maha Sangha, other religious clergies, and the lay people, unveiling the newly constructed finial of the stupa in Isipatanarama by the Most Ven. Kolonnawe Sumangala Thero, and offering the ‘Katina Cheewara’ to the Maha Sangha by Deshamanya Rear Admiral Jayantha Kularathne.

Even before his birthday, Dr. Damenda Porage contributed to many great meritorious acts. Accordingly, on the 2nd of November, cooked food were given to over 200 villagers in the Heiyantuduwa area and dry food items were distributed among many low-income families with his generous donation.

Moreover, the historic great meritorious deed that he performed a week before his birthday was an eye opening for all the Buddhist people in Sri Lanka and abroad. That is, on the 24th of October, a sapling of the Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi was brought to Nashik in the state of Maharashtra, India. With the blessings of Atamasthanadipati Most Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thero, the Bodhi sapling was planted in a very ceremonial manner at the land of Buddha’s Mark in Nashik, adding blessings to the Indo-Sri Lankan Buddhist brotherhood.

Also before that, he contributed in organizing another historical charity. That is, during the inaugural flight for the ceremony of converting the Kushinagar Airport into an international airport, he made the arrangement to bring Kapilavastupura Holy Relics, enshrined in Waskaduwa Sri Subhuti Maha Vihara, to Kushinagar from Sri Lanka to receive the blessings of the Holy Relics at the new airport. Dr. Damenda Porage, who carries out various activities for the support and unity of various Buddhist traditions, has been devoting himself to creating Indo-Sri Lankan Buddhist brotherhood for many decades. He can be described as a person with a good personality who has the necessary courage, strength, energy, and necessary diplomatic wisdom.

It is a must to make a brief introduction about Dr. Damenda Porage, who was blessed to celebrate his birthday on such a great charitable occasion. He showed great interest in welfare and religious activities even when he was a school child. He was a young activist who worked with Mr. E.W. Adikaram’s movement to acquaint school children with vegetarian food and to save them from using drugs. He received his primary education from Wesley and Isipathana Colleges in Colombo, his undergraduate degree from the University of Kelaniya, his post-graduation from the University of Peradeniya, and his PhD from Lyndon State University in America. He started his professional life as a teacher and paved the way for a better future with the wisdom of both lay and clergy students in several schools and universities, and even during his professional life he generously supported religious and social welfare activities. After attending the inaugural conference of the Global Buddhist Congregation in New Delhi, he became a founding member. He was also appointed as an executive committee member of International Buddhist Confederation in 2012 which changed its name from Global Buddhist Congregation and has been holding the position of Deputy Secretary General since 2017.

In addition, in 2011, he started the Foundation for Buddhist Brotherhood with the aim of spreading Buddhism around the world. He was also fortunate to meet His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in 2015 and in the same year, Sri Lankan Tibetan Buddhist Brotherhood Society was also established.

He is also the founder of the world’s first Pāli and Sanskrit Cultural Exchange Centre being built in Sri Lanka. He can be called a blessing that emerged in the Buddhist society and is also popular among religious leaders in Sri Lanka and abroad such as His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Khambo Lama of Mongolia and the Maha Sangha of all the three nikayas of Sri Lanka, etc.

Moreover, that afternoon, another special charity event was held with his participation. It was organized by the Dayaka Sabha led by the Most Ven. Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thero of Sri Subhuthi Maha Vihara, where the Kapilavastupura Holy relics are enshrined. There, the Chief Incumbent Thero, who welcomed Dr. Damenda Porage with a warm heart, also proceeded to give the blessings of the Holy Relics, which are allowed to be worshiped by a layman rarely. After the religious rites, Mahanayake Thero invited Dr. Damenda Porage to give a meaningful lecture to more than 200 children and parents gathered in the Dhamma hall.

There, he shared his valuable ideas on how to present righteous children to society, the role of parents there, and the foundation that the family provides to the child from an early age. It enthralled everyone present.

Also, on this occasion, the Chief Incumbent Most Ven. Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thero also added some words about Dr. Damenda Porage and his family members, his spouse Dr. Shermila Milroy, and son Mr. Devnaka Porage, saying that there is no more exemplary mother and father to give birth to a virtuous child.

He also recalled his immense contribution to the religious order and the high social recognition he received in Sri Lanka and abroad.

On this occasion, Dr. Damenda Porage offered a precious casket made of gold studded with diamonds to place the Holy Relics.

After that, a cake cutting and a tea party were organized for his birthday and it was held amidst the blessings of everyone.

He has organized more than 100 Buddhist seminars, foreign scholarships for lay and clergy students, bhikkhu education, bursaries, as well as many meritorious deeds for the Buddhist people, even with his personal financial donation. May Dr. Damenda Porage, who sacrifices his wealth and labour to perform the service that should be done by a Buddhist to the society, get strength and courage to nourish the religious order!