Photo Story

Guoqing : The cradle of Tiantai Buddhism (Pics)

Published

3 weeks ago

November 13, 2023

editor

The Guoqing Temple is a well known Buddhist temple in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China.

The temple is located on Tiantai mountain, which is roughly 220 kilometres from the city of Hangzhou. Visitors are treated to a walk through calm and fresh environs as they take the path up the mountain.

The temple is considered as the birthplace of the Tiantai sect of Mahāyāna Buddhism, and was reconstructed several times during the Tang, Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties.

From there, the Tiantai sect of Buddhism spread to both Korea and Japan during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD).

Originally built in 598 CE during the Sui dynasty, the Temple was founded by the monk – Zhiyi.

Spread around an area of 250,000 sq. ft. the temple features around 600 rooms in a total of 14 different halls, including the Grand Hall of Sakyamuni, the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats and the Hall of Monk Jigong.

The temple, which was greatly vandalised during the cultural revolution, was later restored by the Tiantai County Guoqing Temple Restoration Committee, which was appointed by the Tiantai County officials.

The 59.4 metre tall brick Sui Pagoda with 09 levels was built at the temple area in the year 597 CE is still standing, making it one of the oldest surviving brick pagodas in China.

Meanwhile, one of the Buddha statues handed to Sri Lankan Missions abroad in 2011 by the then President – Mahinda Rajapaksa to mark the 2600th ‘Sambuddha Jayanthi’, has also been placed at the Guoqing temple. Citing temple sources, the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka had stated that the Temple’s relations with Sri Lanka can be traced back to 200 years , and it is the third Buddha statue of Sri Lankan origin to be donated.

(Pics : Shanika Jayasekara)

Entertainment

Russian Lit. Fest held in Colombo (Pics)

Published

2 weeks ago

November 23, 2023

editor

The Russian House in Colombo hosted the much anticipated annual Literature festival yesterday (Nov. 22), amid the excitement of Literary enthusiasts in the island.

Russian Literary greats Rasul Gamzatov, Leo Tolstoy and Ivan Turgenev were commemorated at the event.

A unique photo exhibition out front showcased the estates where the literary greats had lived and created their iconic pieces – Tolstoy’s Yasnaya Polyana and Turgenev’s Spasskoye-Lutovinovo. Photo archives were provided by the Director of the Russian House in Colombo, Madam Maria Popova, and the writer for the Russky Mir magazine, Irina Ivina.

Max Dimov, Deputy Chief Editor of “Moscow Media”, addressed the gathering with a video message.

During his visit to the Russian House in July, he had made friends among the founders of the Russian Literary Club, famous philologists, writers and translators Ranjana Senasinghe and Felix Fernando.

For the first time ever, the festival program also showcased the works of contemporary Russian authors in Sinhala.

Felix Fernando presented his translation of an international bestseller book by Evgeny Vodolazkin, ‘the most important living Russian writer’ according to the New Yorker. His novel “Laurus” was dubbed as ‘a new statesman book of the year 2016’. On top of that, Fernando also translated a touching New Year short story “I Won’t Tell!” by an extremely popular Russian author, producer, screenwriter and philanthropist Alexander Tsypkin.

Both authors addressed the audience with a video greeting, deeply touched by the interest in their works and happily responded to the invitation to visit Sri Lanka and personally meet the translator.

(Pics : FB of Russian House in Colombo)

Photo Story

SL President attends Maldivian President’s inauguration ceremony

Published

2 weeks ago

November 17, 2023

editor

The inauguration ceremony of the new President of Maldives – Dr. Mohamed Muizzu was held in Malé, Maldives today (17).
Attending the event, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe congratulated Dr. Muizzu.

Entertainment

Kamal & Kumara Thirimadura shine at Presidential Cinema Awards

Published

3 weeks ago

November 15, 2023

editor

The 20th Presidential Cinema Awards ceremony was held yesterday (November 14), at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre, Colombo.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe attended as Chief Guest while Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister – Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana were Guests of Honour.

The event, which was not held since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, handed over 53 awards after reviewing 42 films screened in 2019 and 2020.

The Best Actor awards in 2019 and 2020 went to Kamal Addaraarachchi (Ginnen Upan Seethala) and Kumara Thirimadura (The Newspaper) respectively.

The Best Actress awards in 2019 and 2020 went to Samadhi Laksiri (Dekala Purudu Kenek) and Nita Fernando (Panshu) respectively.

One of the most beloved and iconic musicians in the country Kalasoori Nanda Malini received a special award from the President at the awards ceremony.