Tamil Hindu Funds Buddhist TV Channel

July 2, 2007

Author: PK Balachandran

Source: Hindustan Times

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Gautama Buddha may have been born in Nepal, and achieved enlightenment in India, but the only South Asian country where Buddhism flourishes today is Sri Lanka. On the 2315th anniversary of Buddhism's arrival on the island, Sri Lanka's first 24 hour television channel on Buddhism (and possibly the first in the world), The Buddhist, was inaugurated here on Friday by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

"The coming into existence of this channel is symbolic of the inalienable and irreversible ties between Sri Lanka and India," Lalith Weeratunga, the President’s Secretary, told the Hindustan Times.

It was Prince Mahinda, son of Emperor Ashoka, who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka. Known locally as an Arahant (one whose spiritual status is second only to Buddha) Prince Mahinda had a tremendous impact on Sri Lanka. His sister Sangamitra too is equally revered. The country is a bastion of the Theravada school of Buddhism.

"The relations between Sri Lanka and India may have had ups and downs, but these have only been conflicts between parties or governments. The people of the two countries have had no problems with each other. The bedrock of the relationship has been religious and cultural and this is inalienable and irreversible," Weeratunga said.

The Buddhist will begin its broadcasts in Sinhala, Tamil and English, but will soon have services in Tamil, French and other international languages too.