Gorkhapatra Sansthan, October 7, 2006

Kahtmandu, Nepal -- Funeral procession of Vice-Chairman of the International Association of Buddhist Women Ratna Manjari Guruma concluded today at Swoyambhu according to Buddhists practices, three days after her demise.

She was 88 and Senior Acharya of Bipashyana Meditation.

Before funeral procession, Speaker Subash Nembang, Deputy Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, Nepali Congress Vice-President Sushil Koirala, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Pradip Kumar Gyawali, Minister of State for Information and Communications Dilendra Prasad Badu, former ministers and high ranking officials paid tribute on her dead body.

Prior to this, her dead body was carried to the various places of the capital.

Guruma, who was born in Dhankuta and spent childhood in Bhojpur, had received knowledge on Buddhism from Burma. She had provided remarkable contribution for dissemination of Buddhism in Nepal till the end of her life.

Meanwhile, President of Nepali Congress (Democratic) Sher Bahadur Deuba has expressed deep grief on the demise of Senior Acharya Anagarika Ratna Manjari Guruma of Bipashyana Meditation.

President Deuba, issuing a message of condolence, today, expressed his best wishes for eternal peace to departed soul and requested to have patience to bereaved adherents of Buddhism.