On the 5th March 2016, at a special event in the Kirindiwella MMV, in the presence of a large number of Principals, teachers and students from the Dompe Educational Division, Gampaha district, the Sati Pasela program was launched. Several Zonal Education Directors and Divisional Education Directors were also present.
Introducing the concept and the reasons for this initiative, the architect of the program, Venerable U Dhammajiva – Abbot and Chief Meditation Master of the Nissarana Vanaya, Mitirigala Monastery gave a descriptive account of how mindfulness had helped him during the past several decades, in every activity he undertook. He spoke of the value of introducing mindfulness at an early age to young children and how it would help then in class work, at school, and at home when interacting with peers, family and society. Venerable Dhammajiva explained the short and long term plans for expanding the Sati Pasela program to all schools that volunteer and show interest in the subject of mindfulness.
Professor Lakshman Jayatilake (Chairman, National Education Commission), Mr Banadra (Treasury, and Member of the National Education Commission), Mr Thillainadarajah (General Secretary, All Ceylon Hindu Congress), and Vishwa Parami Management representing the Vishwa Parami Foundation were special guests.
The initial book on the Sati Pasela program was distributed to everyone present.
