- Panadura
Panadura is a city on the western coast of
Sri Lanka , south ofColombo .History
The historic debate 'Panadura Vadaya' was held in this place which is a milestone of the history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka with the initiative of the ven. Migettuwaththe Gunananda Thera.
People and Culture
Panadura is home to about 100,000 citizens.Most of the population are Buddhists but there are many Christians and Muslims also.
The historic Panadura Debate 'Panadura Vadaya'
The historic Panadura Debate between the Buddhists and the Christians took place on August the 26th and 28th, 1873. Before that, several debates were held and each were identified by the place where it was held. After three major debates at Baddegama (1865), Udanwita (1866) and Gampola (1871), the fourth and most notable one was held in Panadura.
Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera
The two key persons in the Panadura Debate were Migettuvatte Gunananda Thera for the Buddhists and Father David de Silva for the Christians. Gunananda Thera was acclaimed as a debater of a very high order after this debate and his personality deeply affected the resurgence of Buddhism which was to follow. He was described as "the boldest, most brilliant and most powerful champion of Sinhalese Buddhism" and the leader of the Buddhist revival.
The Panadura Debate was the climax of the first phase of the revivalist movement which began with the establishment of the 'Society for the Propagation of Buddhism' at Kotahena and the establishment of the Lankopakara Press in Galle. Both events took place in 1862. In the meantime, another sect, the Ramanna Nikaya had been established in 1865 and the Vidyodaya Pirivena, the first leading centre of oriental learning was founded in 1872.
It was the success of the Panadura Debate that prompted Colonel H. S. Olcott to come to Ceylon. He was impressed with what he read in the newspapers in the United States on the Debate and immediately sent a mass of pamphlets and other literature which were very critical of Christianity. Gunananda Thera got these translated into Sinhalese and distributed them all over the island.
The Panadura Debate thus created quite a stir not only in this country but in many parts of the world.
References
External Links
* [http://maps.fallingrain.com/world/CE/36/Panadura.html FallingRain Map - elevation = 1m]
* [http://www.bps.lk/wheels_library/wh_281.html#_Toc159679743 Article on Colonel Olcott, Panadura and the revival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka]
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