By Walter Jayawardhana, Lankaweb.com

Los Angeles, US¡ªThe thirty first Buddhist temple managed by Sri Lankan monks in the United States will be declared open, June 24, close to the scenic Mississippi river in the midst of a distinguished gathering of Buddhist monks in the city of Minneapolis.

The first Sri Lankan managed Buddhist temple in the state of Minnesota will be declared open at the newly acquired property at 3401 North 4th Street Minneapolis.

The scholar monk, Seewalie , who is also the head of the Paramadhamma Chethiya Pirivena in Ratmalana in Sri Lanka said the temple will be open for all Buddhist schools like Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana and other denominations without any discriminations. ¡°A special effort,¡± he said, ¡°will be made to take Buddha¡¯s sublime dharma to the Americans.¡±

A host of distinguished leaders representing Buddhist temples will be converging on Minneapolis to take part in the opening ceremony: Venerable Kurunegoda Piyatissa Nayaka Thero, Abbot New York Buddhist Vihara, New York, Venerable Walpola Piyananda Nayaka Thero, Abbot Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara, Los Angeles, Venerable Pallebage Chandrasiri Nayaka Thero, Abbot Oregon Buddhist Vihara Oregon, Venerable Nakulugamuwe Sumana Maha Thero, President Society of Buddhist Volunteers, Singapore, Venerable Katugastota Uparatana Nayaka Thero, Abbot International Buddhist Center, Maryland, Venerable Maitipe Wimalasara Thero, Dharmavijaya Buddhist Vihara, Los Angeles.

The following lay dignitaries also will participate: Mr. Bernard Goonetilleke, The Ambassador, Sri Lankan Embassy, Washington D.C., Mr. H.A. Podiappuhamy, Founder Sahana Foundation, London U.K. , Ms. Shani Wijay and Mr. and Mrs. Weerasooriya.

The ceremony which will start by hoisting American, Sri Lankan and Buddhist flags at 10.a.m., June 24 and will end by an hour long Maha Pirith chanting at 5 p.m. on the same day. A free lunch also will be served to the participating devotees following the alms giving to the Buddhist monks.