Hon Bob Dorris MSP welcomes Chief Monk to the Scottish Parliament

The Most Venerable Malewana Punnarathan Thero ,the Chief Monk of Western province and the abbot of Bellana Sri Dharmapala Pirivena,Sri Lanka ( Bhante Rewatha’s Preceptor) was warmly welcomed to the Scottish Parliament by Glasgow MSP Bob Dorris.

The Most Venerable Sapugoda Chandananda Thero,the abbot of Pussala Purana Viharaya,Matara, Southern Sri Lanka also joined with him.

The chief monk giving his blessings at the Scottish Parliament said:

“We are very grateful to the Scottish people for their generous support to the victims of Tsunami in Sri Lanka. We appreciate the way the Scottish Government treat the religious leaders and their support for ethnic minority communities living in Scotland. I am very impressed by visiting this great building which has wonderful history and the warm welcoming nature of Scottish people. We wish prosperity and peace for this wonderful country.”

Bob Dorris MSP, upon welcoming them to the Parliament at the Garden Lobby commented:

“I am very honoured to welcome you to the parliament and we are very happy about the Vihara’s charity works and especially secular mindfulness courses run by the venerable Rewatha. We appreciate the contributions by other Buddhist communities as well.”

The three prelates including the most venerable K. Sri Rewatha Thero, the chief monk of Great Britain and the head monk of Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara were invited to Bob’s office and they had an opportunity to visit the main debating chamber.

After the blessings a signed copy of “A Mindful Journey” was presented to Hon Bob Dorris MSP by the author the Venerable K. Sri Rewatha Thero.