Ananda W. P. Guruge
Encyclopedia
Ananda Wahihana Palliya Guruge (born 8 December 1928) (known as Ananda W.P. Guruge) is a Sri Lankan
diplomat, buddhist leader and writer. He is the former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sri Lanka
to UNESCO
, France, and the United States (with non-resident accreditation to Spain, Algeria and Mexico) during the period from 1985 to 1994 and adjunct professor of Religious Studies at Cal State Fullerton.
in 1947 with a BA
first class honors in Sanskrit
special. Thereafter he gained a Government Scholarship to do a PhD
at the University of London
.
, taking the civil service exam at the age of 23 and was posted to the Jaffna
Kachcheri as a cadet
. During his carrier he served as the Head of the Dehiwala Zoo
and the Colombo
Kachcheri. Eventually he was transferred to the Treasury
and from there to the Prime Minister’s Office
. From 1952, he served Prime Ministers Dudley Senanayake and Sir John Kotelawela as the senior Assistant Secretary to the Prime Minister
, until was headed the government program to celebrate 2500 Buddha Jayanti. Bradman Weerakoon
, who was the assistant secretary to the Prime minister at the time, succeeded Dr. Guruge as senior Assistant Secretary and later Secretary to the Prime minister. Guruge was appointed as the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Education
and Cultural Affairs in 1965.
, the Patron of the European Buddhist Union
, and the Dean of Academic Affairs and Director of the International Academy of Buddhism at University of the West
(formerly Hsi Lai University) in Rosemead, California. He is also an adjunct professor of Buddhism
, Hinduism
and Peace Studies at California State University, Fullerton
. Dr. Guruge is also the Liaison Officer to the United Nations
and UNESCO
for the World Fellowship of Buddhists
; and is currently the Chairman of the World Buddhist University Council. He serves as an editor of Hsi Lai Journal of Humanistic Buddhism.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
diplomat, buddhist leader and writer. He is the former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
to UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, France, and the United States (with non-resident accreditation to Spain, Algeria and Mexico) during the period from 1985 to 1994 and adjunct professor of Religious Studies at Cal State Fullerton.
Education
Guruge was educated at Dharmaraja College, and went on to graduated from the University of CeylonUniversity of Ceylon
The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978. In 1978 it was...
in 1947 with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
first class honors in Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
special. Thereafter he gained a Government Scholarship to do a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
.
Civil service
He join the Ceylon Civil ServiceCeylon Civil Service
The Ceylon Civil Service, popularly known by its acronym CCS, originated as the elite civil service of the Government of Ceylon under British colonial rule in 1833 and carried on after independence, until May 1, 1963 when it was abolished and the much larger Ceylon Administrative Service was...
, taking the civil service exam at the age of 23 and was posted to the Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
Kachcheri as a cadet
Cadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
. During his carrier he served as the Head of the Dehiwala Zoo
Dehiwala Zoo
National Zoological Gardens of Sri Lanka is a zoological garden in Dehiwala, Sri Lanka, founded in 1936. Its sprawling areas are host to a variety of animals and birds...
and the Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
Kachcheri. Eventually he was transferred to the Treasury
General Treasury Building
The General Treasury Building is the building that houses the Treasury of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Finance & Planning along with several of its departments. It was formally known as the Secretariat Building therefore it is still officially referred to as the The Secretariat...
and from there to the Prime Minister’s Office
Prime Minister's Office (Sri Lanka)
The Prime Minister's Office is a ministry of the Government of Sri Lanka. It provides the administrative and institutional framework for the exercise of the duties and responsibilities vested in the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka...
. From 1952, he served Prime Ministers Dudley Senanayake and Sir John Kotelawela as the senior Assistant Secretary to the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka is the functional head of the Cabinet of Sri Lanka. However, the President is both head of state and head of government in Sri Lanka...
, until was headed the government program to celebrate 2500 Buddha Jayanti. Bradman Weerakoon
Bradman Weerakoon
Deshamanya Robin Bradman Weerakoon CCS is a retired senior bureaucrat of the Sri Lankan government. Bradman Weerakoon has the unique distinction of serving nine Sri Lankan heads of state in a career spanning across half a century....
, who was the assistant secretary to the Prime minister at the time, succeeded Dr. Guruge as senior Assistant Secretary and later Secretary to the Prime minister. Guruge was appointed as the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education (Sri Lanka)
The Ministry Of Education is a ministry of the Government of Sri Lanka that directs the formulation and implementation of policies related to primary and secondary education in Sri Lanka...
and Cultural Affairs in 1965.
Buddhist Leadership
Active in international Buddhist leadership, Professor Guruge is a Vice President of the World Fellowship of BuddhistsWorld Fellowship of Buddhists
The World Fellowship of Buddhists is an international Buddhist organization. It was founded in 1950 in Colombo, Sri Lanka by representatives from 27 nations...
, the Patron of the European Buddhist Union
European Buddhist Union
The European Buddhist Union is an umbrella organization of Buddhist communities and organizations in Europe founded in 1975. It is open to Buddhist organizations of all schools and traditions....
, and the Dean of Academic Affairs and Director of the International Academy of Buddhism at University of the West
University of the West
The University of the West is a university in Rosemead, California. It was founded in 1991 by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, founder of the Taiwan-based Buddhist order Fo Guang Shan and Hsi Lai Temple, the North American order headquarters...
(formerly Hsi Lai University) in Rosemead, California. He is also an adjunct professor of Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
and Peace Studies at California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton is a public university located in Fullerton, California. It is the largest institution in the CSU System by enrollment, it offers long-distance education and adult-degree programs...
. Dr. Guruge is also the Liaison Officer to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
for the World Fellowship of Buddhists
World Fellowship of Buddhists
The World Fellowship of Buddhists is an international Buddhist organization. It was founded in 1950 in Colombo, Sri Lanka by representatives from 27 nations...
; and is currently the Chairman of the World Buddhist University Council. He serves as an editor of Hsi Lai Journal of Humanistic Buddhism.
Writings
Dr Guruge has also authored 53 books in Sinhala and English, including What In Brief Is Buddhism, Free At Last in Paradise, Serendipity of Andrew George, Peace At Last in Paradise and The Unforgettable Dharmapala. He has also published over 175 research articles on Asian history, Buddhism and education.See also
- List of Sri Lankan non-career diplomats
- List of Sri Lankan academics
- Notable members of the Ceylon Civil Service