Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary, HE Aruni Wijewardane at London Buddhist Vihara

At the invitation of the Anagarika Dharmapala Trust, Her Excellency Aruni Wijewardane, Secretary to the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka, attended a lecture event at London Buddhist Vihara on ‘Buddhism and Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Friday September 6th 2024.
Text of the remarks made by the Foreign Secretary:
Most Venerable Bogoda Seelawimala Maha Thera, Chief Sanganayake of Great Britain and Chief Incumbent of the London Buddhist Vihara,
Venerable Tawalama Bandula Thera,
Resident Monks of the London Buddhist Vihara (LBV),
Distinguished GUESTS AND devotees of the Vihara,
I consider it a privilege to have been invited by the LBV during my current visit to the UK.
Over the years, through our High Commission in London, Sri Lanka has maintained its longstanding association with the Vihara as well as its religious and spiritual mission. We support the Vihara in its outreach in spreading the teachings of Theravada Buddhism and fostering a culture of tolerance, spiritual reflection and social harmony.
In my capacity as the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is a matter of added satisfaction that the work of the LBV makes an important ‘non-official’ and positive contribution to Sri Lanka’s relations with the United Kingdom. I emphasize the role played by the Most Venerable Bogoda Seelawimala Maha Thero in fostering good relations between the Buddhist vihara and the British establishment, including the Royal Family by attending to various ceremonies at the Palace and thereby bringing the good work of the Vihara to the attention of His Majesty
On this occasion I consider it important to recall the origins of the LBV.
In this regard, and on the eve of the 160th birth anniversary of Anagarika Dharmapala, we honor his memory as a leading figure in the Sri Lankan independence movement, who devoted his life to inspiring people from across the world towards the teachings of the Buddha.
At a time when Buddhism was in decline due to colonial rule, he placed it firmly as a global religion and established international contacts from the East and West to spread the teachings of the Buddha in the continents of Asia, America and Europe.
These efforts were supported by the Maha Bodhi Societies he established throughout the world, including the British Maha Bodhi Society, for the purpose of
"The extension of the knowledge of Buddhism, the establishment of a Vihara in London and the promotion of the cause of Buddhism in the West".
Through his efforts, in 1926 , the London Buddhist Vihara was the first Buddhist monastery to have been established outside the continent of Asia.
A century ago, at a time of limited global connectivity and communication, this was a significant achievement due to the tireless efforts of Anagarika Dharmapala.
Reverend monks and friends ,
Sri Lanka’s Buddhist heritage has an impact on its international outlook even today. We believe that the profound values offered by Buddhism can have a positive impact in the current global landscape, marred by conflict, where we aim to achieve a non-violent and equitable world where common issues facing humanity are addressed in a sustainable manner, drawing inspiration from Buddhist teachings.
In the work of the Foreign ministry, we have incorporated this message internationally - Importantly, this year marks the 25th anniversary of the international recognition of Vesak by the United Nations, pursuant to the adoption of UN General Assembly Resolution 54/115 which was pioneered by the then Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka late Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar.
Reverend monks ladies and gentlemen,
Today I also look forward to listening to the guest speaker this evening Prof. Thrishantha Nanayakkara, Director of Morph Lab at Imperial College, London on his insights regarding the intersections between Buddhism and AI. The subject is deeply relevant to the future world, raising important ethical and spiritual questions.
I convey my appreciation once again to the London Buddhist Vihara for inviting myself , the HC and staff of the Sri Lanka High Commission to participate in today’s important programme at the Vihara.
Let me conclude by recalling a line from the Vihara's 2550th Buddha Jayanthi publication
"the London Buddhist Vihara has remained a beacon of light, spreading the sublime teachings of the Buddha Dhamma in all the West’
Thank you all for your support for this noble objective , and I wish you all a reflective and peaceful evening.