A Peace Award to Dr. Ananda Guruge from Japan
Translated from Sinhala by Mrs. Darshanika Guruge
Dr. Ananda Guruge, the former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the USA, an eminent Buddhist scholar, was awarded the U Thant Peace Award on January 3rd, 1997 at Takamatsu, Japan.
Sri Chinmoy, who was on a seven-week peace mission in Japan, presented this peace award to Dr. Guruge. This peace award, which is presented to a person or organization, engaged in efforts in favour of World Peace has among its previous recipients the former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev, Mother Theresa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and South African President Nelson Mandela.
During the award ceremony, Sri Chinmoy declared that it was most appropriate to present this peace award in a country where there were many Buddhist Pagodas with Lord Buddha's holy relics.
At the same time, he introduced U Thant and Dr. Guruge as two distinguished brothers, two scholars of the highest level, role-models and clarion-callers of World Peace.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Guruge mentioned that U Thant, the former UN Secretary-General was a great hero and he will treasure the award as one of the most precious momentoes that he has ever received in his lifetime.
After the Award Ceremony, Sri Chinmoy was invited to present a Peace Concert in front of the giant Kamakura Buddha statue. He used both eastern and western musical instruments for this concert.
Published in the Sri Lankan newspaper, Dinamina, January 30, 1997