Dr. Praneeth Abeysundara, Senior Lecturer at Department of Sociology & Anthropology of University of Sri Jayewardenepura has been appointed as the new Chairperson of All Ceylon Buddhist Congress (Samstha Lanka Bauddha Maha Sammelanaya). Dr. Praneeth, the former Head of the Sociology & Anthropology Department, got this appointment at the 95th Anniversary and the Annual General meeting of the congress which held on 17th January 2015. After assigning to the new post Dr. Praneeth said that he wishes concentrate more on welfare & education of children in poor communities and monks.
All Ceylon Buddhist Congress (ACBC) is well renowned for their service to the Buddhism in Sri Lanka and the Social & cultural service, and it was established in year 1919 and has been contributing for the development of the religion all throughout these years. Dr. Praneeth has been an active member and dedicating his efforts in his long time service to the country through All Ceylon Buddhist Congress. He has been working in executive committee for a long time and he was the Former Deputy President of the congress.Other than the religion and cultural affairs, ACBC also concentrate on child welfare, education, Scholarships for poor children, youth activities, international Buddhist affairs & maintaining child development centers and Senior citizens homes and etc. And they also publish a Buddhist magazine called “Bauddhalokaya” and Dr. Praneeth is the Chief Editor of the magazine.
Dr. Praneeth studied at Ananda college Colombo, and obtained BA. Special Degree in Sociology, and later MA in from University of Sri Jayewardeneprua. He also obtained Merit in Post Graduate Diploma in Writership & Communication. He got his PhD. in Socialogy from Banaras H.U. India.
He was awarded State Literary Award in 2004 for his novel “Baranas nam nuwara”. And he is a Prestigious Bunka Award Winner (Japan). He is also a Member of State Literary panel. And is the Chairperson of Art council of University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Those are very few of his long list of achievements. He has contributed a lot for the betterment of the field of Arts in the country and continuing his service.
– Binoy Abeywickrama