As Buddhists, we must make it mandatory to visit a Temple once a week or at least on Poya days, Prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday (14).
The Premier was speaking during a ceremony at the Sri Sunandarama Pirivena in Madampe, Puttalam, where the turret (Koth Kerella) of a 60-ft tall Chaithya was unveiled.
An old Vishnu Devalaya was also unveiled after conservation.
"By engaging them in religious activities, we must take care that our younger generation does not go astray. Otherwise, it would lead to a grave destruction. It should be made mandatory for Buddhists to send their children to Sunday Schools. This is being done by other religious masses. Today, it has reached a state where Buddhists don't even visit a Temple... As Buddhists, we must make it mandatory to visit a Temple once a week or at least on Poya days. If not, the community will become distanced from the Temple. In order to steer society in a correct path, the community and Temple should continue to function together," the PM said.
(Mirror)