Vijayananda Pirivena in Galle

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comments 2

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  Sarath Alwis

  :: 31 January 2018 13:41:48

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  PRASANNA ARYAPREMA

  :: 11 October 2017 16:13:43

  This this the temple where Col Henry steel Olcott first observed Panchaseela ( Five precepts)and converted to Buddhism. He was instrumental in reawakening the Colonial time Buddhism in Sri Lanka and Dhamma school ( sun day school) similar to church. First such school was initiated at Vijayananda Temple Thereafter they went on to establish Buddhist schools similar to missionary schools popular among christian middle class for the benefit of middle and upper class Buddhists The temple is unassuming or ordinary visitors but an interesting place for historians and scholars learning / exploring contemporary Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Several memorabilia and documents related to Col Olcott along with a letter in his hand writing is available in the temple