Colombo Buddhist Theosophical Society (Incorporation) | | | Colombo Buddhist Theosophical Society (Incorporation) | | | | AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE COLOMBO BUDDHIST THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY | | | | | | Preamble. | WHEREAS Col. Henry Steel Olcott, an American Theosophist and Madam Helena P. Blavatsky, a Russian author and Theosophist, inspired by the massage of Buddhism disseminated by the Panadura debate' of August, 1873, arrived in Sri Lanka on 17th May, 1880, and proclaimed themselves Buddhist by observing Thisarana Panchaseela : | | AND WHEREAS the said theosophists, perceiving the need for the upliftment of the people's self-esteem in collaboration with Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala, Ven. Migettuwatte Gunananda, Anagarika Dharmapala and other Buddhist Leaders founded the Colombo Buddhist Theosophical Society for the purpose of fostering education, traditional culture and national heritage and protecting Buddha Sasana and whereas the Society has managed as many as 420 public schools : | | BE it therefore enacted by the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka as follows:- | | | [21st May , 1998 ] | Short title.
| 1. This Act may be cited as the Colombo Buddhist Theosophical Society (Incorporation) Act, No. 25 of 1998. | Incorporation of the Colombo Buddhist Theosophical Society.
| 2. From and after the date of commencement of this Act, such and so many persons as now are members of the Colombo Buddhist Theosophical Society (hereinafter referred to as "the Society") or shall hereafter be admitted members of the Corporation hereby constituted shall be a body corporate thereinafter referred to as "the Corporation") with perpetual succession under the name and style of "Colombo Buddhist Theosophical Society" and by that name may sue, and be sued in all courts with full power and authority to have and use a common seal and alter the same at its pleasure. | General objects of the Corporation.
| 3. The general objects for which the Corporation is constituted are hereby declared to be" | (a) to foster and develop the Buddha Sasana and propagate the Buddhist doctrine, by establishing and maintaining Dhamma schools, Abbhidhamma and Pali teaching centres and by organizing lecture programmes, conferences, debates and workshops ; | | (b) to establish Training Colleges for Bhikkhus to make them learned and well established in the Dhamma and to promote the enrolment of suitable young persons in the Order; | | (c) to promote the advancement of Buddhist culture, literature and art; | | (d) to bring about the moral, cultural and social development of Buddhists and to protect their rights; | | (e) to establish and maintain orphanages and homes for the aged, to grant assistance to persons affected by floods, cyclones, epidemics and other disasters ; | | (f) to provide rest houses for pilgrims in Sri Lanka and abroad and organize other social service and welfare activities ; | | (g) to establish and maintain pre-schools, other Educational Institutions and Training Centres which could advance the objects of the corporation and accordingly to grant financial aid, scholarships and facilities for the education and development of children ; | | (h) to establish libraries and to print, publish and sell books and periodicals relating to the objects of the Corporation ; | | (i) to establish a centre for the strengthening of Universal Brotherhood without distinction as to race, religion, sex, caste or colour ; | | (j) to encourage the study of comparative religions, philosophy and science ; | | (k) to assist the promotion of universal peace; and | | (l) to do such other acts and things as are condusive or incidental to the attainment of ail or any of the above objects. | | General powers of the Corporation,
| 4. Subject to the provisions of this Act and any other written law, the Corporation shall have the power to do, perform and execute all such acts, matters and things whatsoever, as are necessary or desirable for the promotion or furtherance of the objects of the Corporation or any one of them, including the power to open, operate or close bank accounts, to borrow or raise money with or without security, to receive or collect grants and donations, to invest its funds, and to engage, employ and dismiss officers and servants required for the carrying out of the objects of the Corporation. | Management of the affairs of the Corporation.
| 5. | (1)The affairs of Corporation shall, subject to the rules inforce for the time being of the Corporation, be administered by an Executive Committee consisting of the Office-bearers and such other persons as may be provided for in such rules and elected in accordance therewith. | | (2) The first Executive Committee of the Corporation shall consist of the members of the Executive Committee of the Society holding office on the day preceding the date of commencement of this Act. | | Rules of the Corporation.
| 6. | (1) It shall be lawful for the Corporation from time to time, at any general meeting and by a majority of not less than two thirds of the members present and voting to make rules, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act or any other written law, for all or any of the following matters" | (a) the classification of membership and the admission, withdrawal or expulsion of members ; | | (b) the election of Office-bearers, the resignation from, or vacation of, or removal from Office of, Office bearers and their powers and duties ; | | (c) the election of members of the Executive Committee and its powers conduct and duties; | | (d) the powers, conduct duties and functions of the various officers, agents and servants of the Corporation ; | | (e) the procedure to be observed or the summoning or holding of meetings of the Executive Committee, the times, places, notices and agenda of such meetings, the quorum therefor and the conduct of business thereat; | | (f) the administration and management of the property of the Corporation, the custody of its funds, and the maintenance and the audit of its accounts ; and | | (g) generally, for the management of the affairs of the Corporation and the accomplishment of its objects. | | | (2) Any rule made by the Corporation may be amended altered, added to, or rescinded at a like meeting and in like manner as a rule made under subsection (1). | | (3) The rules of the Society existing on the day preceding the date of commencement of this Act, shall in so far as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act or any other written law shall be deemed to be rules made under this section. | | (4) The members of the Corporation shall be subject to the rules of the Corporation. | | Debts due by and payable to society .
| 7 . All debts and liabilities of the Society existing on the day preceding the date of commencement of this Act shall be paid by the Corporation hereby constituted and all debts due to and subscriptions and contributions payable to the Society on that day shall be paid to the Corporation for the purposes of this Act. | Corporation may hold movable and immovable property.
| 8. The Corporation shall be able and capable in law to acquire and hold any property movable or immovable, which may become vested in it by virtue of any purchase, grant, gift, testamentary disposition or otherwise, and all such property shall be held by the Corporation for the purposes of the corporation and subject to the rules in force for the time being of the Corporation, with full power to sell, mortgage, lease, exchange or otherwise dispose of the same. | Seal of the Corporation.
| 9. The seal of the Corporation shall be in the custody of the Secretary and shall not be affixed to any instrument whatsoever, except in the presence of such Secretary and either the President or the Honerary Treasurer, who shall sign their names to the instrument in token of their presence, and such signing shall be independent of the signing of any person as a witness. | Saving of the rights of the Republic and others.
| 10. Nothing in this Act contained shall prejudice or affect the rights of the Republic, or of any body politic or corporate, or of any other persons, except such as are mentioned in this Act and those claiming by, from, or under, them. | Sinhala text to prevail in case of inconsistency.
| 11. In the event of any inconsistency between the Sinhala and Tamil texts of this Act the Sinhala text shall prevail. | | | |
