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| 1. Vidya Samadhi international Buddhist centre, Pannipitiya |
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This Centre holds the main administrative and controlling body of the entire organisation. It is situated at Pannipitiya, about 22 kilometres from Colombo. Anybody who wants to reach this office should come along High-level Road to Kottawa, and, then, another 2 kilometres along Kottawa – Piliyandala Road. Public Bus route Number from Kottawa is 255.
At present 12 resident monks stay here along with the chief incumbent Ven. Hipankande Saddhasiri Nayaka Thero. This institution functions not only as a coordination centre, but also as a prime Buddhist place of worship, and the main community centre of the area.
The social and religious services rendered by this centre to the area have been greatly appreciated by the locals living around in particular and, also by the government and the general public of the country in general.
As for plans, we intend to construct a four-storied building at the premises for the use as the Head Office, and to use as an International Centre with facilities for Advancement of Research and Training in Human Resources for both local and international participants.
The present building is a great donation by the British High Commission in Sri Lanka. |
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| 2. Vidya Samadhi Maha Pirivena , hipankanda. |
This Buddhist Centre of training and worship started over a century ago, at the Sri Pada Maha Viharaya at Hipankanda, Karandeniya, in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka.
From the days of the British occupation, this place has functioned as an important religious centre, thus providing an enormous service to the Buddhist community in the southern part of Sri Lanka, then Ceylon. The Buddhist clergy and the villagers living in the area continuously looked after the centre from the inception.
In July 1985, this temple became under the direct authority of Ven. Hipankande Saddhasiri Threo, after the demise of his guru - Ven. Madampe Saddhasoma Nayake Thero. This Pirivena, (training centre) now house more than 60 students, both from the clergy and the non-clergy. In addition, 12 teachers are providing necessary training and support for the trainees at this centre. Student trainees from other centres too come here for further studies. The period of training varies from 3 to 5 years depending on the sphere of study.
Apart from the training activities, this centre functions as a Sunday school, a Pre school, a Community centre and as a Cultural centre too.
The Government of Sri Lanka has recognised this institution as an Approved Educational Centre for Higher Studies. |
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3. Vidya Gaveshi Pirivena, Lunugamvehera |
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This is another new training centre started by the head priest in one of the most remote areas in the country. This training centre situated at Lunugamvehera in the Hambantota administrative district provides a great service to a very backward community living in the area.
Services include a training school, a Sunday school, a pre school, a community centre, and house over 30 resident trainees at any given time.
It is pertinent to mention that this centre experiences very harsh situations during most parts of the year, due to lack of clean water and other basic needs. A proper hostel building and essential furniture items needed to conduct its courses have become the main priories right now. This centre is about 275 kilometres from Colombo |
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4. Vidya Pradeepa Pirivena, Tissamaharama |
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This is another residential training centre situated off Tissmaharama town, in the Hambantota district. This place too is about 270 kilometres from Colombo. Over 30 young bhikkus reside in this complex together with about 10 tutorial staff. The villagers living in the vicinity look after the daily needs of the resident monks and other staff living in the training centre.
In addition to those residing within the premises, 25 or more from the nearby villages come to this institution to follow various study courses.
Generally, Hambantota area does not get rainfall for more than 2 months during a calendar year. That too is during the northeast monsoon season, which falls between Octobers to December.
Ground water available in this area is usually salty, and as such, people living here, finds it so difficult to manage their daily requirements including for agricultural purposes.
This centre frequently has trouble in finding its own daily basic needs. It is due to the extreme dry conditions prevailing in this part of the country and the poor living conditions of the people living around. In addition, this centre is not yet fully equipped to conduct its routine training courses, although it has its own administrative building. |
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5. Sri Saddhasoma Pirivena, Kataragama |
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This is another up coming training centre for young bhikkus and other lay students resident in the Kataragama, an area considered as very holy by both Buddhists and Hindus. The centre is located about 285 kilometres from Colombo, again in the Hambantota district with the same difficult living conditions as mentioned under the above Vidya Pradeepa Pirivena at Tissamaharama.
Only the lecture hall is complete, and, all other residential facilities are incomplete. |
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6. Sri Deepankara Dharmayatana Pirivana, Boraluketiya. |
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This training centre, earlier known as Sri Anandaramaya, was re-named by the present head priest, as a mark of respect to its founder. This centre is situated in a small town known as Balapitiya, in the Galle district.
Over 25 resident trainee monks and 7 teachers reside at this centre. Since the religious importance and the existence of this centre are longstanding, people in the area consider this as a very important institution.
Students from other villages too come here to follow different study courses, since this institution has produced very good results in public examinations. A Sunday school and a community centre are also conducted at the premises. |
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7. Sri Bodhimalu Vocational Training Centre, Uragasmanhandiya. |
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Sri Bodhimalu Vocational Training Centre along with the Sri Bodhimalu Temple, situated about 60 kilometres from Colombo, is the flagship of the work implemented by the head priest, Ven. Saddhasiri Nayake Thero.
The initial mud and thatch building was constructed with the help of the villagers of the area, on a 20 perches land, and later, a further 30 perches were received from the local authority.
As a token of appreciation of the great social work carried out by the priest, DESWOS Project in Germany, along with Direct Help Organisation, donated a fully equipped Vocational Training Centre at this premises spending over Rs.10.0 million.
This has a three-storied building together with facilities for Computer Training, Typewriting, Dress making, Gas and Arc welding, and, facilities for other self - help employment programmes. This centre has a good computer lab, and all the training programmes are conducted by the Government sponsored National Apprenticeship Board. Presently, the following Certified Courses are conducted by this training Centre; |
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i. Certified Course in Computer Science |
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ii. Mechanical Course on Industrial Sewing Machines, |
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iii. Diploma in Dress Making |
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>> Another new course on Electric Arc Welding will begin from the beginning of 2006. |
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8. Sri Dhakshinaramaya, Uragasmanhandiya. |
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This is another place of religious importance built by the head priest, for the benefit of the people of the area. Presently, five resident monks look after the centre, and it has a Sunday school and a fully equipped Pre-school. |
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9. Vidya Samadhi Wijesekara Buddhist Centre, Kosgoda. |
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This is a new addition to the cluster of training centres of Vidyasamadhi Development Foundation, built with a donation received from a local philanthropist. This institution can consider as an up coming training centre. Right now, a Sunday school is conducted at the premises. People come here often to obtain counselling services. |
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