Mr LEESER (Berowra) (13:46): I recently visited the Mahamevnawa Buddhist Meditation Centre and Monastery to lay the foundation stone of their new dining hall. The centre plays an important role in the Theravada Buddhist community. The monastery is situated on a beautiful 20-acre property in Cattai in my electorate, a setting well suited to its monastic purposes, and is led by a dedicated team. The chief abbot of the monastic order is the Reverend Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero. The chief bhante is Bhante Reverend Katugasthota Soma Thero. The other bhantes are Reverend Polgahawela Anandamaithri Thero, Reverend Peradeniye Mudithabodhi Thero and Reverend Weweldeniye Dhamma Rathana Thero. On the board of directors are Rasika De Silva, Nandika Kodituwakku, Teshan Karannagoda, Kithsiri Jayasinghe, Sunil Dissanayake, Kumari Willarachchi, Sanjeewani Ambagahawatte, Sujeeva Wilegoda, Kokum Senaratna, Suchiththa Liyanage, Dishni Beneragama, Anoma Bandara and Sanjeewa Kariyawasm. The monastery encourages and guides its devotees in the practice of patience, compassion, generosity, gratitude and respect towards parents, teachers and elders. Along with spiritual support and teaching on the principles of Buddhism, they provide programs for children and youth, relationship support and care for older people. I congratulate the centre on this latest phase of their development.