named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Blood Donation Program
Community blood drive held on auspicious days as an act of merit-making
Children’s Dhamma Program
Religious education program for children conducted in Sinhala and English
Sri Lankan New Year Celebration
Cultural and religious observance including special offerings (puja) and Seth Pirith chanting to invoke peace and blessings
Vesak Celebration
Annual observance commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha, featuring meditation, sermons, devotional music, and lantern lighting
activities · 2 groups
What they do
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Buddhist Religious Ceremonies & Teachings 4 activities
- Hosts annual Vesak Full Moon Poya Day celebrationOrganizes a large-scale annual event commemorating the Buddha's Birth, Enlightenment, and Parinirvana, featuring Dhamma sermons, guided meditation, devotional singing by children and adults, traditional lantern illumination, blood donation drives, and a communal meal of traditional Sri Lankan food (Dansela). The event includes both daytime religious observances and evening cultural celebrations.
- Hosts special religious ceremonies and offeringsConducts special events such as the Special Offering (Puja) and Seth Pirith Chanting ceremony to invoke blessings of peace, health, and happiness for the community and the world, reflecting traditional Theravada Buddhist ritual practices.
- Provides a place of worship for Buddhist practitionersOffers a permanent religious center at 214-22 Spencer Avenue, Parkside Hills, New York, established in July 2000, to serve as a Vihara for worship, meditation, and religious observance. This includes daily and special observances such as full moon days and other Buddhist rituals.
- Teaches and promotes Buddhist practices of altruism and generosity (Dana)Integrates the teaching and practice of Dana (generosity) as a core element of religious instruction and community life, encouraging members to engage in selfless giving as part of their spiritual development.
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Spiritual Development & Meditation Programs 2 activities
- Conducts religious teachings and Dhamma discussionsProvides ongoing access to Theravada Buddhist teachings through live Dhamma talks, sermons in Sinhala, and facilitated discussions on Buddha Dhamma, Buddhist history, culture, and personal spiritual inquiries. Includes regular and special-topic programming for adults and youth.
- Offers youth Dhamma education through a Children's Dhamma ProgramProvides structured religious education and spiritual development for children through a dedicated Children's Dhamma Program, fostering early engagement with Buddhist teachings and practices.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$186K
Contributions & grants$186K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$4100%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$147K
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$17K
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$1.82M
Cash$89K
Investments$0
Liabilities$252K
Net assets$1.57M
Liquid reserves7.2 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +20.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 15
- AJITH THILAKASIRI — DIRECTOR
- BUDDHI ABEYSEKERA — TREASURER
- DON BUDDHIKA HETTIARACHCHI — DIRECTOR
- HAREESHA BOYAGODAGE — DIRECTOR
- KHEMA JANTRARIT — SECRETARY
- MOUSHMI BARUA — DIRECTOR
- NAMAL KURUPPU — DIRECTOR
- NILANTHI CHANDRAKANTHA — DIRECTOR
- SARATH RANASINGHE — DIRECTOR
- SHALUKA EDIRIWEERA — DIRECTOR
- SUNIL DEHIPAWALA — DIRECTOR
- VEN AKMEEMANA NAGITHA THERO — DIRECTOR
- VEN ALUTHGAMA DHAMMAJOTHI THERO — PRESIDENT
- VEN AREGAMA SIRISUMANA — DIRECTOR
- VEN HEENBUNNE KONDANNA THERO — DIRECTOR
relationships · 4
Who they work with
- American-Sri Lanka Buddhist Association Partner — Founded the organization to establish a Vihara for Theravada Buddhists in New York.
- New York Buddhist Vihara Partner — Venue and host organization for the Vesak Full Moon Poya Day events.
- University of Colombo Partner — Alumni of the University of Colombo, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree.
- Venerable Kotmale Kumarakassapa Thero Partner — Invited teacher leading Dhamma teachings during the weekend event.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Dedicated Faith-Based Space for Spiritual and Community Lifemethodology: faith-based_community_spaceBy providing a dedicated religious and community center, the foundation supports sustained spiritual practice and community cohesion, because a stable, culturally grounded space enables consistent engagement with Theravada Buddhist traditions and collective rituals.
- Generosity and Merit-Making as Spiritual Practicemethodology: merit-making-through-generosityBy integrating acts of generosity (Dana) and community service such as blood donation into religious life, the foundation advances spiritual development, because performing meritorious deeds aligns with core Buddhist values and deepens karmic and communal well-being.
- Intergenerational Engagement in Dhamma Practicemethodology: intergenerational_dhamma_practiceBy involving both children and adults in shared Dhamma learning and practice, the foundation fosters deeper spiritual development across generations, because collective participation strengthens continuity and communal understanding of Buddhist teachings.
- Teaching Dhamma as Dana to Cultivate Wisdommethodology: dhammadanaBy offering Dhamma teachings (Dhammadana) freely, the foundation cultivates wisdom and supports personal and spiritual growth, because sharing knowledge as an act of generosity is itself a meritorious and transformative practice in the Theravada tradition.