Sri Lankaramaya Buddhist Temple

The Sri Lankaramaya Buddhist Temple, also recognized as the St Michael Buddhist Temple, stands as a significant religious and cultural landmark in Singapore. It is distinguished as the primary Sri Lankan Buddhist temple of its kind within the nation. The temple is operated by the Singapore Sinhala Buddhist Association, an organization established in 1920 by early Sinhalese Buddhist migrants from Sri Lanka.

History and Establishment

The origins of the Sri Lankaramaya Buddhist Temple trace back to the early 1920s when Sinhalese Buddhist migrants formed the Singapore Sinhala Buddhist Association. Initially, the Association lacked a permanent location, leading to several moves across Short Street, Race Course Road, Dhoby Ghaut, Niven Road, Wilkie Road, and Spottiswood Park to conduct religious services. By approximately 1938, the Association acquired premises at 263, Outram Road, which served as the temple's home for some years.

However, the growing congregation and devotee gatherings soon outgrew the Outram Road site, necessitating a search for a larger area. A pivotal moment arrived in 1945 with the return of members of the Ceylon Pioneer Corps to Singapore after World War II. These ardent Buddhists, upon learning of the Association's need, identified a vacant two-acre plot of land on St. Michael's Road. Through their contributions from meager salaries, alongside the local Sinhala Buddhist community and well-wishers, the land was purchased, enabling the temple to move to its current location.

The foundation stone for the new Sri Lankaramaya temple was laid on February 24, 1949, by His Excellency Sir Franklin Gimson, the then British Governor of Singapore. The temple officially came into being at this new site on February 11, 1952. A significant addition was the brass Buddha statue, a donation from Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, which was ceremoniously paraded from Outram Road to the new premises and is now situated at the temple's Bodhi Shrine.

Further development occurred when the first pile for the temple's extension program was driven on January 15, 1987, by the late Most Venerable Seck Hong Choon, Chief Abbot of Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Temple.

Religious Affiliation and Practices

Throughout its history, Sri Lankaramaya has strictly adhered to the Theravada Buddhist traditions as practiced in Sri Lanka. Religious services and ceremonies are conducted by resident monks from Sri Lanka's Theravada School of Traditions, who are typically engaged on a yearly term basis. The temple is a center for regular Dhamma events, including sutta discussions, meditation practices, chanting, pujas, and blessings for devotees.

Cultural Significance and Features

The temple plays a vital role in the cultural life of the Sri Lankan community in Singapore, serving as a venue for celebrating cultural activities such as New Year in April. Buddhist festivals, including the Vesak Festival, are also celebrated annually. A notable feature within the temple compound is a Bodhi tree, a direct descendant of the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya, India, through the Sri Lankan Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi lineage. Four Buddha images are placed around this sacred tree, facing the cardinal directions.