1. Publishing of Books
• “Olcott and Buddhist Revival” by D. W. Senadeera has been translated to English and published by the Society.
• It has been suggested to establish small scale industries for unemployed women especially for widows. A land has been already acquired for this purpose and awaiting for donations to start the project
  
2. Important Gazette notifications and dates
• The Society has been registered under the “Societies Ordinance” on 5th October 1915.
• Society has been approved as a Charitable Institution by Gazette notification on 7th November 1952( Ceylon Government Gazette) and exempted from Tax in the Income Tax Ordinance under section 44 A
• Colombo Buddhist Theosophical Society has been registered as a voluntary organization in the Ministry of Social Services on 2nd January 1998 and the registration number is MSS/ N.G.O./ 1/173.
• A Taxpayer Identification Certificate Number 409095950 has been issued to the society on 13th August 1998.
• The Colombo Buddhist Theosophical Society has been incorporated by an Act No 25 0f 1998.
• The property which was used by Col. Henry Steel Ollcott have been declared a Protected Monument by the Archlogical Department (No. 1085 – Do the 1999/06/18)

Buddhist Mission to England

Representations to the secretary of state for the colonies

MEMBERS of the Colombo Buddhist Theosophical Society at its very beginning were able to obtain a satisfactory solution to many difficulties under which the Buddhists as a community suffered at the time of the society’s foundation.
            To get redress to the wrongs done to Buddhists in connection with the notorious Easter day Riots of 1883, a Buddhist Defense committee was formed. The delegation to the Secretary of state and the result of the representations made by the delegation are well worth reading. Therefore papers connected with this mission to England are given below.

The correspondence throws a special light on conciliatory  methods employed in approaching the Secretary of  state for the Colonies and  the eventual success that attended the  representation.
            The following is an account of  the first meeting held by the Buddhists in this connection :-
“Minutes of a meeting of Sinhalese Buddhists held at Colombo on the 28th day of  January 1884, to consider  the present state of Buddhism in the lsland of Ceylon and  adopt  measures for obtaining  redress  for certain grievances .
            “Resolved that in opinion of this meeting the letter of the Colonial Secretary in declaring the inability of the Colonial authorities to punish those who took part in the disgraceful religious riots of Easter Sunday last has set a precedent dangerous to the peace of the Colony and calculated to invite a repetition of such outrages upon the Buddhists whenever the Government may be in the hands of weak or pre-judiced officials.”

‘’Resolved that the promise of   future protection  is so qualified as to leave it optional with any future timid or bigoted  inspector –General of Police to refuse permit for Buddhist religious processions on the plea of possible interference  by unruly crowds in the public streets; that there-fore the ancient  rights of the Buddhist people are not  adequately guaranteed ,and finally that no assurance seems to be given that whatever revisions may be made in the police regulations  they  may not be abrogated and the worse at any time when  there is a change of administration.’’
“Resolaved that a committee to be known  as the Buddhist Defence committee be formed with full  Powers to adopt such  lawful  and  proper measures as may from  time seem  advisable to promote Buddhist interests and  in the present instance to obtain redress for injuries to our religions and  property during the late religious riots of Easter Sunday   last.’’
“Resolved  that the Committee be composed of  the  following gentlemen who shall have power to add to their number.
Messer William de Abrew, Don Carolis, Don David Abeyratna Muhandiram, J.P.Jayathilaka, J.R.De Silya, Simon Perera Darmagunawardena , Aratchi,B.H.kure, sedris silva, proctor ;C.P.gunawardana,
At the suggestion of the high priest and upon  the motion of Mr. Don Carolis seconded by Mr. Fernando and  supported  Mr.J.P. jayatilaka it was unanimously.
“Resolved that Colonel H.S.Olcott of madras, be respectfully requested  to generally assist the committee to carry out  the objects of  its organization and  that provided he consents he be made an honorary Member, and asked to proceed to London as the chief agent of the committee with the  full power to represent it under any  circumstances  that  may arise and in its  name and that of the Sinhalese Buddhists in general, to ask for  such redress and enter into such  engagement as may appear to him judicious .”
This commission was accepted by Colonel Olcott subject to the stipulation that under no circumstances could he receive any remuneration whatsoever for his services.

Olcoott’s Letter

77, Elgin Crescent, London. W.
                                                                                                                        17th May 1884.

To the Right Honorable the
Earl of Derby,
 The Secretary of State for the
 Colonies.

My Lord,

            The Dispatch of the 18th of February of His Excellency Sir Arthur Gordon to Your Lordship will have informed you of my having come to London has a representative of the Sinhalese Buddhists, to obtain redress for the gross wrongs done them in connection with the riots of Easter Sunday last year.

            I have personally conferred with the Hon R.H. Meade of the colonial office with respect to the matter and now have the honour to ask your Lordship’s consideration of enclosures herewith for warded, copies of which are not on file in the office. They are:-

I have also shown to Mr. Meada copy of a Colombo paper which sets forth the unlimited power habitually enjoyed by the second low officer of the Crown – the local official primarily responsible, as alleged, for the apparent miscarriage of justice complained.

That your Lordship may not what the Sinhalese people hope for as measures of justice, I would state that I am asked to beg your consideration of the following  points :-

I am sorry to inform Your Lordship that discontent and despair are rapidly spreading among the Sinhalese Buddhists; a fact to be the more deplored since there is not in all the Imperial realm a more simple, peaceable community. Before the manufacture and sale of arrack was promoted for revenue purposes they were unless history belies them –a most kindly, quit and virtuous nation. Their devotion to Buddhism appears in the fact that despite the bloody policy of the Portuguese and the despicable and crafty one of the Dutch, they ever remained secretly true to there forefathers’ faith and as soon as it become safe under British rule openly professed it. They feel just now, however as, though the ruling powers were secretly willing to deliver them over to the Romish mob and determined to deny them common protection. No seer is required to foretell what the legitimate out come of such a feeling must be and on behalf of the better part of the nation I do most earnestly implore Your  Lordship to take such steps as shall without dangerous delay, prove to them the sincerity of the professions of Government as made from time to time.

          I have the honour to be,
     Your Lordship’s obedient humble
                                                          Servant,
                                                                                                          (Sgd.) HENRY S. OLCOTT.

Downing Street,
                                                                                                                             17th June, 1884.

I am directed by the Earl of Derby to acknowledge the receipt your letters of the 17th and 27 ultimo (letters of 27th not reproduced) relating to certain grievances which the Buddhists in Ceylon are alleged to be suffering.

            Lord Derby has already expressed his great regret that it has not been found possible to prosecute the ring- leaders of the riots of Easter Sunday last year and is ready to acknowledge that the sufferers on that occasion have real grounds for complaint in this respect, but, in the absence of fresh evidence it would be impossible to re–open the matter.

            Her majesty’s Government are resolved that in Ceylon as in other parts of the Empire, the principles of religious liberty shall be strictly adhered to and will do their utmost to remove any grievance under which any religious community can be shown to labour, and to put an end to any appearance of disregarding the proclamations of Religious Neutrality which were made at the time when the English took possession of the Island. It is Impossible to make any more explicit statement of the firm intention of the Government to abide by the spirit of those ancient proclamations than has already been made by the Governor under the instructions of the Secretary of State, as given in Lord derby’s dispatch, to which reference is made in your letter of 17th May.  
           
Lord Derby has confidence in the loyalty and good sense of the Buddhist community in Ceylon, and feels sure that they will  loyally accept his assurances in this matter.
The question of dealing with the Buddhist temporalities is a difficult one and has already engaged the attention of her majesty’s government, and of Sir Arthur Gordon’s predecessors. No doubt sir Arthur Gordon, to whom your letter will be referred will carefully consider the whole matter, and Lord Derby will be glad to give his attention to any practicable scheme suggested to sir A.Gordon and recommended by him ,which would enable the Buddhist community to control the management of the properties vested in their church, though clearly, the exercise of any such control should be by the Buddhists  themselves rather than through the instrumentality of any government officials.
As regards the suggestion that the birth day of Buddha should be observed as a full holiday for all Buddhists servants of the government, and the question of allowing tom toms in the religious processions and of the appointment of Buddhist Registrars of Marriages, lord derby can express no opinion without first referring to the governor, but he is confident that it will be the wish of sir Arthur Gordon as it is that of her majesty’s government, that every consideration possible should be shown in these  matters.
Your letters will accordingly be referred to the governor by the outgoing mail.

I am sir
                                                                                                Your obedient servant,
                                                                                              (Sgd.) R.H.MEADE.

77, Elgin crescent,
                                                                                                Nottinghill, w.,
                                                                                                19th June, 1884.

To the right Hon’ble the Earl of Derby,
The secretary of state for the colonies

My lord,
 I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your lordship’s letter of the 17th instant replying to mine of the 17th and 27th ultimo. On behalf of the Buddhist of Ceylon, I have to thank you for the frank and unequivocal declaration of the intent of Her Majesty’s Government to rigidly enforce the neutrality of the crown in the matter of religious liberty, as regards the Buddhist community of Ceylon, equally with other religious communities in all parts of the Empire. Or as you state it, “to put an end to any appearance of disregarding the proclamations of Religious Neutrality which were made at time when the English took possession of the island.” This assurance if the “gazette” of the local government and made obligatory upon all local officials, will go far towards re-establishing the confidence of the Sinhalese nation, now so depley shaken by recent events. What the nation wants is the full conviction that they are not to be made the victims of a mob of religious fanatics who by threatening the peace of Ceylon, can intimidate officials and escape punishment of their crimes.
 A reference to the archives of the Colonial office will convince your Lordship of the fact that the question of the Buddhist temporalities is in the state of a case awaiting decision after a full report by a special commission appointed to look into the entire subject. Their report is dated 18th October, 1876 and the delay of government in acting upon its recommendations has been productive of much injury to the morals of the Kandyan Priesthood.
I thank your lordship for the promise to refer to His Excellency sir Arthur Gordon, governor of Ceylon, with the expression of the wish of Her Majesty’s government “that every consideration possible should be shown in these matters,” the questions of making Lord Buddha’s birth day government holiday for Buddhist public servants, of allowing tom toms in religious processions, and of the appointment of Buddhist Registrars. I have the full conviction that sir Arthur Gordon will do all he can to give effect to the expressed sympathies of government and in all official matters to treat the Sinhalese with justice, when his attention is calltd to grievances.
                                                                                                (sgd.)H.S.OLCOTT