Matara Bodhiya

Everyone who enters the city of Matara suddenly sees a scene that inspires unlimited devotion and respect for the real Lovthura Amameni Buddha. That is, AD Matara's historical Bodhi Rajaya is located in the midst of a crowded city center with a sub-sanctuary environment that tells a historical legend that goes back as far as 515.

Located on the main road from Colombo to Kataragama, facing the Uyanwatta stadium, this very sacred Matara historical Bodhi Rajaya was built in AD. It is confirmed by ancient documents and legends that it is a place with a historical background dating back to the time of Kumaradasa, who became the king of Sri Lanka in 515. It is said that Kalidasa, who came to Sri Lanka as a state guest at the invitation of King Kumaradasa on the occasion of the planting of this Bodhiraja, met with an unfortunate fate and lost his life. It is said that along with the five queens who killed themselves, the king and the seven people who advised him escaped with their lives. To commemorate this tragedy, 7 bodhis were planted in the city of Matara and since then this place was called 'Hat Bodhi Garden'. The historic Bodhi King of Matara is believed to be one of those Bodhis.

The British rulers who ruled the country at that time made various threats to this historical place of worship and even set a date to cut down this Bodhisattva with the intention of teaching a lesson to the Buddhists in order to expand the territory of Matara Municipality. But at that time, the Buddhist businessmen in Matara city together with government officials and officials of Matara City Council and other Buddhist people have defended it with great difficulty in the midst of various threats. At their initiative, Bodhi arranged to worship a sitting Buddha statue in front of him and to enhance the sanctity here, a small Buddha temple, a small pagoda and two temples were built. This small pagoda originally built is visible behind the temple.

Among the members of the Matara Bodhi Security Council, Paralo Sapat B. Mr. Ariyaratne and B. that. Mr. Simon Appuhami, K. P. Mr. Karanelis is among the people who took the lead for this. In 1961, K. T. Somapala, C. that. Dharmasena and R. Mr. Pallis started the construction of a pagoda by donating his wealth. The Matara Bodhi Defense Council was established on October 19, 1962 for the future survival and protection of the Matara Bodhi Raja which was gradually developing.

Mr. Edman Samarasekera was appointed as the first chairman of the Matara Bodhi Security Council and he held that position continuously for 17 years until 1978 and worked for the advancement of the Bodhi Raja by performing immaculate and immortal service. After his death respectively Henry Gunasekara, C. that. Hemachandra, Barrister Richard Kulatunga, Sr. K. Mr. Chandrasoma, Amaradasa Kumanayake, Rohantha Samarasinghe were appointed and the current chairman is Mr. Dihan Samarasekera, a noble belonging to a distinguished family of the area. It should be mentioned with praise that he is devoting his time, wealth and labor to this cause
with a national and religious feeling and doing a noble national, religious and social mission for the country, society and Sambuddha Sasana.

There are many services provided by the Matara Bodhi Defense Council. Providing scholarships for higher education to children of low-income families, providing scholarships for student monks who are receiving special education, supporting the development activities of Matara General Hospital, providing free spectacles to children and the elderly from economically disadvantaged families, and providing medicines to indigent patients receiving hospital treatment. , providing contact lenses, providing material and financial support to uplift Dhamma school education in the area, making religious cultural and social donations, G.E.O. for school students in the area. Conducting regular rehearsal seminars, preparing projects for teaching Buddha Dharma with the aim of creating a generation with Dharmadhara Vinayadhara necessary for the existence of the Sasana in the future, providing support for the reformation of the existing temples in the area, With the aim of creating a religious society, daily Bodhi Pooja in honor of the Bodhi King, sermon programs and weekend special meditation, implementation of Dharma discussion programs, supporting the celebration of festivals of national importance, providing necessary Dhamma books to school children and adults through a Buddhist library service, historical Many religious, national and social activities such as protecting and maintaining the Bodhisattva and all the Buddhist objects inside the shrine are carried out according to Buddhist rituals and customs. Mentioned here are only a few of the vast services performed by the Matara Bodhi Defense Council.

Among the vast services implemented by the Matara Bodhi Defense Council, special mention should be made of the patronage given to the Matara General Hospital, which serves about 2 million people in the districts of Matara, Hambantota, and Ratnapura. It should be commendably mentioned here that out of the 27 existing wards of the Matara General Hospital, 11 wards have been built and donated with equipment by the Matara Bodhi Defense Council. They are maintained and upgraded by the Matara Bodhi Defense Council. So far, the Matara Bodhi Defense Council has spent only fifteen crores eighty four lakhs ninety three thousand three hundred eighty eight and thirty cents for the Matara General Hospital. (Rs. 158,493,388.30$}) The amount spent for the three-storied building complex alone for the installation of the CT scanner machine which was recently built by the Matara Bodhi Security Council and handed over to the hospital is close to 03 crore rupees. Apart from this, the Matara Bodhi Security Council has Kamburugamuwa, The 02 acres of fertile land facing the Matara Galle main road and the complete two-storied building complex built at a cost of 200 lakhs have been donated to the Ministry of Health and its full ownership has been legally transferred. It currently stores and distributes the blood needed by the government hospitals in the southern province and is used as the southern regional blood center. Because of this, it has been a great help to save the lives of thousands of helpless patients who are facing death.

The concept that ' without the Matara Bodhi Defense Council, there is no Matara General Hospital ' has arisen in the people of the area because of this noble service.

Another special project implemented by the Matara Bodhi Defense Council is for the students who are qualified for the Eastern, Primary, Middle and Advanced Levels and who have passed the General Certificate of Education General Examination and scored the highest marks in the Matara District who are facing economic difficulties. Providing scholarships to children for higher education. The program of awarding scholarships to students and children was started on 25.07.1994 and so far 875 students have been awarded scholarships. The amount spent for that is two crore one lakh rupees. (Rs. 20,100,00$}) The scholarship program for student monks was started in the year 2001 and so far 226 monks have been awarded scholarships. The amount spent for that is twenty five lakh forty four thousand rupees. (Rs. 2,544,000$}).

19.10.2012 will complete 50 years of Matara Bodhi Defense Council. To commemorate the commemorative occasion, the Matara Bodhi Defense Council has launched many national, religious and social projects throughout the year. As a special occasion, a Bodhi Puja at 6:00 AM and 7:00 PM will be held daily for the country and the people from October 3rd to 16th. In addition to this, several free medical clinics have been held for the public with the participation of experienced western doctors of the government and arrangements have been made to provide the necessary medicines to those patients free of charge. Furthermore, the temples, Aranya Senasana and several government schools which are maintained in the midst of difficulties have been repaired and provided equipment and supported to develop them.

When I look back at the footsteps of the Matara Bodhi Defense Council for a period of half a century, gaining the trust of the people, a sense of pride and great sadness naturally arises in my heart. • We sincerely hope that the Matara Bodhi Defense Council will have the strength and courage to continue this noble service by setting a precedent for other Buddhist organizations currently operating in Sri Lanka for the sake of the country for the sake of the nation.