Saranankara – The Last Sangha-Raja of Ceylon

Author – D.B Jayatilaka

Publisher – Visidunu Prakashakayo

Second Batch 2003

ISBN 955-9170-56-2

64 Pages

“Modern history of Ceylon has no name more worthy of honor and grateful remembrance than the one which forms the title of this sketch. But, strange to say, even to Sinhalese Buddhists’ the name Saranankara Sanga-Raja presents as indistinct a figure as if he belonged to the misty regions of antiquity and not to the eighteenth century of the Christian era”. These two opening sentences of this sketch, which were written by Sir D.B. Jayatilaka more than a century ago, seem to hold true even to this day.

This year which commemorates the 250^th year of the revival of the Upasampada, the crowning glory of Saranankara Sanga-Raja’s efforts, is of special significance to our nation. To commemorate this event as well as to show the gratitude of the nation to this great national hero, we in our own way have planned to bring out re-prints of two valuable books. The first of these is ‘Saranankara Sanga-Raja Samaya’ by late Prof. Ven. Panditha Kotagama Vachissara Thero, Which is an in-depth research work on this subject. The other is this authoritative and powerful pen-sketch written by Sir D.B. Jayatilaka who himself was a national leader. As first principal of Dharmaraja College, Kandy, Principal of Ananda College, Colombo, General Manager, Secretary, President of the Young Men’s Buddhist Association, President of the National Congress, and Leader of the State Council, his tireless efforts for the revival of Buddhism as well as for the independence of Ceylon is well-known.

We are very grateful to the Sir D.B. Jayathilaka Trust, to Mrs. Leila Jayatilaka Wijesekera, and other members of his family for granting us kind permission for this publication.

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