Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanti Mandiraya — Local services in Colombo

Venerable Kirama Wimalajothi Thero is the founder of the Buddhist Cultural Centre. After the dedicated religious service he had provided for the people of Malaysia, Singapore and USA for nearly 20 years, he returned to Sri Lanka to serve the people of his own country.

He started his journey at a small place at, Nadimala, Dehiwala with just a few lay devotees. He went in search of some books on Buddhism and Buddhist Culture etc. To his dismay he found that the books he was looking for were not available at any of the leading bookshops in Sri Lanka. Without resorting to blame others for this pathetic situation he started collecting books on Buddhism and allied subjects.

Buddhist Cultural Centre was established to fill this gap by collecting reading materials etc. for the use of the people of the area as well as in other countries.

BCC was opened on January 2, 1992 under the patronage of Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda, Chief Sanghanayake of Malaysia and Singapore. Most Ven. Aggamahapanditha Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero, Most Ven. Madihe pannasiha Maha Thero, Aggamaha Panditha Ven. Dr. Walpola Rahula Thero, many other maha theros, Buddhist Monks, and distinguished Buddhist lay devotees were present at the opening ceremony.

As Sinhalese Dhamma books were out of print at that time, Ven. Wimalajothi Thero also opened a printing press for that purpose in 1995. Also a mobile Buddhist Bookshop was launched in 1995. This was necessitated due to non availability of Buddhist books in all areas including Colombo and to increase basic knowledge in Buddhism by promoting reading habits.

BCC has grown over the years and now it is the most prestigious Buddhist library in Sri Lanka, as well as the world’s biggest...

This bookstore is arguably the largest collection of books on Buddhism and Buddhist history, culture in Sri Lanka, aligned with Theravada Buddhism. Most of the collection is about or in support of the popular and widely accepted history and culture in the country. And lacks variety in conflicting and alternative thoughts, explanations of the universal truth. Ideally it should be a resource in aid of anyone seeking truth and the collection to consist of publications on all religions, historical and contemporary research on religions, criticisms of religious beliefs, etc.

This used to be open for 24 hrs, 365 days in the early days which was useful for many, specially the tourists. Considering the prime location and move towards promotion of spiritual tourism it's not too late to revert to 'always open' policy. The store also has a variety of Buddhist offerings and memorabilia.

Facilities for customers to spend some time reading books, enjoy a coffee, etc. would be welcome value additions. When inquired they didn't have gift wrapping or boxes which could've become handy for customers.

The staff is knowledgeable and helpful. But there's much room for improvement in customer service and books/products on offer, to be useful for the intelligent...

Sri Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi Mandiraya is a valuable and noteworthy addition to the Buddhist community. Its modern facilities and diverse offerings provide visitors with an immersive and enlightening experience, and its commitment to spreading Buddhist teachings is a testament to its dedication to promoting peace and harmony. Whether you are a scholar, a practitioner, or simply a curious visitor, this Mandiraya is well worth a visit.

The Mandiraya is a comprehensive complex that features an information center, a language laboratory, an audio-visual studio, units for Buddhist research and missionary activities, and a conference hall that can seat up to 500 people. With its impressive size and breadth of offerings, it stands as one of the largest Buddhist Publication and Information Centres in the world. The facility is operated by the Buddhist Cultural Centre of Sri Lanka, which further enhances its status as a trusted source of Buddhist knowledge and...