The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Viet Nam and the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka (EDB) organized a virtual conference to share information about, and opportunities in, the Buddhist Education Sector in Sri Lanka with prospective institutions in Viet Nam, on the 25th of August 2021. The main purpose of holding the virtual conference was to promote Sri Lanka as the prime destination at which prospective Vietnamese Monks, Nuns and laymen may learn, practice and follow the Noble Doctrine of the Lord Buddha. The event was attended by more than 100 Vietnamese Monks, Nuns and laymen who are willing to further their studies in Sri Lanka.
The participants actively interacted with representatives from three leading Buddhist education institutes viz. Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka, Bhikkhu University of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka International Buddhist Academy. Information with regard to the prerequisites for diploma, undergraduate and graduate degree programmes, syllabi, scholarship opportunities, financial requirements and other logistical details were shared among the participants by the Sri Lankan institutes. Viet Nam institutes expressed the willingness of their Vietnamese Monks and Nuns to avail the services of lecturers from Sri Lanka, either in an online or offline format, to learn Pali and Sanskrit, as well as to explore the possibility of receiving online courses by Sri Lankan academics, especially in the area of Buddhist Counselling Psychology.
Mr. Suresh de Mel, Chairman of the EDB, Mr. Prasanna Gamage, Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Viet Nam, Ms. Ho Thi Thanh Truc, Ambassador of Viet Nam in Sri Lanka and Most Venerable Dr. Thich Duc Thien, Vice President and Secretary General of the National Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha delivered the introductory remarks, highlighting the importance of the Buddhist Education sector and the strengths of Sri Lanka in meeting the relevant requirements.
Representing the Buddhist education sector of Sri Lanka, Ven. Dr. Lenagala Siriniwasa Thero of the Buddhist and Pali University, Ven. Kirama Vimalatissa Thero of the Bhikkhu University in Anuradhapura and Assistant Prof. Sarath Chandrasekara from the Sri Lanka International Buddhist Academy (SIBA) participated in the conference.
The three main Buddhist Universities of Viet Nam in the cities of Ho Chi Minh, Hue and Can Tho were represented by the Most. Venerable Thich Nhat Tu, the Most Ven. Dr. Thich Nguyen Dat, Vice Rectors of the Buddhist Universities in HCMC and Hue and the Most Ven. Pannamuni, Deputy Secretary General of the Khmer Theravada Buddhist University in Can Tho city, respectively.
