President Ranil Wickremesinghe highlighted the need for a program similar to the initiatives undertaken by the late Mr. D.B. Jayathilaka, which played a crucial role in establishing a strong foundation in Sri Lanka across social, cultural, religious and educational aspects through citizen participation.
During his address at the 125th-anniversary ceremony of the Colombo Young Men’s Buddhist Association (YMBA) at the Bandaranaike International Conference Hall in Colombo yesterday afternoon (07), the President emphasized the importance of collective progress as one Sri Lankan nation, with a focus on the future rather than the present.
The Colombo YMBA, founded under the chairmanship of Sir Anagarika Dharmapala on January 8, 1898, with Mr. D.B. Jayatilaka as its founding chairman, stands as the oldest and largest Buddhist organization in the country, contributing significantly to Sri Lanka’s broader mission. The theme of this year’s anniversary event was ‘Discourse for One Sri Lanka.’
During the commemorative ceremony, the President received the launch of a special issue marking the 125th anniversary, and he awarded scholarships to ten university students. A group photo featuring the President, heads of the association, members of the governing board and members of the working committee was also taken.
