AFFLIATED COLLEGE OF BUDDHIST AND PALI UNIVERSITY OF SRI LANKA IN LOS ANGELES FOR PROPAGATION OF BUDDHISM
By Walter Jayawardhana reporting from Los Angeles
May 26, 09.15 AM:The Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka has established its first United States affiliated institution based in Los Angeles.
The head of the Buddhist and Pali College of Los Angeles, Venerable Witiyala Seewali Thero, told this correspondent that the ceremonial opening of the institution will be held, May 30 at the Institute’s campus at 7833 Emerson Place Rosemead California, a suburb of Los Angeles .
The new buildings erected at the Los Angeles Buddhist Union headed by Venerable Bhante Chao Chu at the Emerson Place facility will be utilized as the institute’s new campus, the Venerable Seewali said.
The head office of the institute is at 10819 Penrose Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352 in the San Fernando Valley, another suburb of the metropolitan Los Angeles.
In an letter empowering the Buddhist and Pali College of Los Angeles, to function as its Los Angeles based affiliate college the Vice Chancellor of Colombo’s Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka Venerable Dr. Thumbulle Seelakkhanda Thero said, it would eventually prepare students for the university courses such as Diploma, first degree, Post graduate diploma and research degrees.
In a letter addressed to the Los Angeles College head the Vice Chancellor said, “First of all. I must thank your idea for the propagation of Buddhism in the USA. Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka is already having affiliated colleges in Singapore, Korea, Malaysia and London.
As its initial academic activity the institution would hold its first Diploma course from August 2004 to July 2005.
The Venerable Seewali said, the institution will fulfill the conditions required by the university council in terms of amended University Act no. 37 of 1995.
However, as an initial step, the institution has been already allowed to conduct classes for the Diploma of Buddhism students until the recognition and registration is finally granted.
The head of the Los Angeles affiliate college, Venerable Witiyala Seewali Thero was the former Principal of the Parama Dhamma Chethiya Pirivena at Mt. Lavinia. A Rajakeeya Pandith of the Sri Lanka Oriental Study Society he holds BA, MA and D, Litt degrees for Buddhist studies. In addition he holds separate diplomas for studies in Pali, Buddhism and Bible.
