An international scholarly symposium on “the Contributions of the Buddha’s Teachings to Universality, Humanism and Peace” will be held in Paris on May 20.

Given the significance of this year’s Vesak Day, the most sacred day of the Buddhist Calendar, coinciding with the 2600th anniversary of the Enlightenment of the Buddha, the focus would be on the contribution of philosophy to some of UNESCO’s fundamental beliefs, those of peace, dialogue among civilizations and the rapprochement of cultures.

Bringing together eminent academics and personalities from the fields of philosophy, education and diplomacy, the Symposium will be chaired by the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, and co-chaired by Indian Parliamentarian and scholar, Dr. Karan Singh, states the Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to UNESCO in Paris.

Presenting papers at the symposium would be Professor Yang Jian of the Institute of World Religions, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (C.A.S.S) in Beijing, Prof. Dr. Phra Dhammakosajarn, Rector of the Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University in Bangkok, Prof. Osmond Bopearachchi, Director of Research, French National Centre for Scientific Research, Ecole Normale Supérieure (C.N.R.S.- E.N.S.) in Paris, Mr. Orya Maqbool Jan, Secretary of the Government of Punjab in Pakistan, Prof. Narang Nouth, Ambassador of Cambodia to UNESCO and Ambassador Mohan Krishna Shrestha of Nepal. President of the General Conference of UNESCO, Dr. Davidson Hepburn is due to moderate the paper presentation and subsequent discussion.

The summation and concluding remarks would be by the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Sri Lanka to UNESCO, Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka.