The publication offers a detailed look at the enduring friendship between the two nations, highlighting Sri Lanka’s rich history, culture, and its unique place in the world. Authored by Ambassador Dato Dr. Ananda Kumarasiri, the book provides valuable insights into the past, present, and future of Sri Lanka-China relations.

Ambassador Data' Dr. Ananda Kumaraseri, His latest book would contribute appreciably towards the much-needed mutual understanding, respect, goodwill, unconditional benevolence, tolerance and moderation in life that are desperately needed to soothe the troubled world we live in. As he pinpoints, leaders themselves must lead by example. Further, as he stresses, the cultivation of a wholesome mental culture from the time of conception of a child in the mother's womb and constant reinforcement of this enculturation through 'home education' and a holistic system of education in school is paramount.

Children all over the world love riddles. From as early as age 7 years, riddles can easily and quickly be a favorite form of verbal amusement and an effective way of developing communication and language skills. Since children enjoy riddles, this invariably becomes a contagious fun-filled learning activity. Simultaneously, their young curious minds are simulated and their ability to articulate thoughts and ideas are sharpened. Further, their vocabulary expands effortlessly while they gleefully exchange riddles with family and friends. An interesting fun aspect of riddles is that often the expected answer does not turn out right as in words that can be cast to give an interesting twist to its meaning such as in puns and idioms.
The pleasure children derive from riddles is an invaluable gift that parents and teachers should provide. Their little ones would get inspired and create their own riddles in the process. Among other positive spin-offs, this greatly boosts their innate creativity and understanding of logical relationship of words, that in turn, enhances their overall intellectual prowess.
Beyond question, riddles present a most powerful learning educational tool in respect to developing proficiency in language in a fun-filled way.

Emperor Cheng Tang of the ancient Chinese Kingdom of Ch'u was a very powerful ruler. The emperor was also famous for his wisdom and compassionate character. Under his able rule Ch'u expanded in all directions and progressed rapidly. As a policy, the emperor toured his kingdom regularly in order to find out for himself the security of the kingdom's boundaries and the welfare of his subjects. The emperor also loved to hunt wild animals while he toured the countryside.
On one of his royal tours the emperor came across a very strange behavior of a mischievous monkey. It had humiliated the emperors’ generals so much so that the he was compelled to order his expert marksman, General Yang Youchi to kill the monkey. But when the monkey began to cry like a baby, Emperor Cheng Tang was curious to know the cause of its sudden sad attitude.
General Yang Youchi explained to Emperor Cheng Tang the monkey's profound sadness on knowing that it was about to be killed by him because of his superb marksmanship. The emperor ordered that the monkey's life be spared. Further, he ruled that there would be no more hunting during his tours of the country. To this day, Emperor Cheng Tang is venerated for his wisdom and deep compassion.

From ancient China comes a story of a young farmer named Tan Ah Chong who was taught a most important lesson in life by his compassionate young son. It reveals the deep-rooted Chinese culture of close family life. This is based on living as an extended family where parents live with their children and grandchildren under one roof. The story also highlights the deeply entrenched Chinese trait of honoring their filial duty parents.
The story revolves around a young Chinese farmer who is persuaded by his wife to carry his frail old father in a rattan basket into the forest to abandon him there to perish. Fortunately, he is prevented from carrying out this unpardonable scheme by his compassionate young son.
Both parents realize their folly upon understanding their son’s explanation.
This story has been passed on from one generation to another to inculcate the Chinese cultural trait of practicing filial piety from a young age. Though the moral and ethical lessons are based on an old Chinese story, it should be read by all children around
the world. Its moral lesson should be followed by everyone, regardless of their race, religion, culture, social status, gender, station in life or any other difference.

The Smiths were an ordinary farming family who lived in the district of Devon in England. They did not own a large farm. However, they worked hard and managed to live a happy family life. Everyone in the family cooperated and worked as a team and helped each other
out in the farm. Each one in the family gave her or his best shot. This was the secret of their success in building a high reputation for their organic farm products.

The epic life-story of Prince Siddhartha is a superb guide for actualizing our success, well-being, real lasting happiness and peace, here and now in this very life. The prince was destined to be a Cakravati Raja (King of Kings or Emperor). He chose instead to realize his aspiration to be a Cakravati Dhamma — Turner of the Wheel of Righteousness or Universal Teacher of the Ultimate Truth. By unravelling the path to Sukha or real lasting happiness, he created a Universal Kingdom of Righteousness for the benefit of all humankind.
Siddhartha chose to think laterally, that is, to think out of the box and strive beyond conventional methods to attain Bodhi, or, Supreme Self-Enlightenment. Instead of depending on an External Being or Power to find the path to Sukha, he relied totally on his shraddha (confidence), adhitthana (resolute determination) and viraya (positive energy). Thus, he demonstrated by his own life-example that we can all overcome problems and challenges in life, that are significantly far more mundane, through self-reliance and self-effort.
As a role model of kindness, compassion, altruism, peace and numerous other fine humane qualities that he perfected, Siddhartha is truly a Glorious Noble Prince of Righteousness to be revered. His thinking, attitude and character are worthy of emulation, regardless of one's ethnicity, culture, social status, gender or religious persuasion.

The real life-story of Angulimala’s dual transformation from being a diligent, virtuous student to a notorious serial killer, and subsequently, to a Saint has been retold for over two thousand six hundred years. It has never failed to evoke powerful emotions in the reader or listener.
This presentation is crafted to cater to a wide readership, ranging from young children to teenagers and adults. Parents can introduce the moral lessons of the historic Angulimala
episode to their children as young as three years old, by reading in sequence the captions of the illustrations. A picture is worth a thousand words. A child can grasp the essence of the story through these graphic illustrations. Parents can use them to narrate to their young ones in simple language the sequence of events and happenings of the legendary story and the moral lessons to be drawn from it. Teenagers and youths would find the story a classic that makes for enjoyable reading. Simultaneously, they can benefit from understanding the underlying life-principles such as the Universal Law of Karma. Further, the story would inspire them to actualize their individual goals in life.
Parents are encouraged to bring up their child with Metta (unconditional friendliness or benevolence or goodwill) and karuna (compassion). Expectant mothers and their immediate families can draw deep shraddha (confidence) so essential for motherhood from Arahanth Angulimala – the Patron Saint of Mothers. They would better appreciate the inherent power of the protective blessings evoked from reciting or listening to the Angulimala Paritta regularly.
In addition, they would benefit profoundly from observing gabbha parihara (protection and the psychological, emotional and spiritual development of the foetus), based on ancient wisdom for ensuring a holistic development and growth of their unborn baby and for a successful birth.

Children love stories, especially those that carry a moral ring. Parents, caregivers and teachers should make a deliberate effort to cultivate their inborn interest to probe and learn by developing the reading habit through moving holistic stories.
This book is designed to stimulate curiosity, imagination, oratory skills and other important learning traits in a child by ingraining a holistic learning approach that would become second nature in adult life. The child would naturally become a life-long learner as well. It is also crafted as an inspiring guide for personal self-development among the young. It can be used to stage a play in school as well.
Discussion and reflection time encourages the child to have a clearer understanding of the text as well as trigger interactive learning and to apply the story line in real life. Finally, the colourful illustrations that animate the major happenings and portray the principal characters help to promote creativity. The holistic education books make excellent bed-time stories for children. Parents can spend enjoyable quality time with their child as young as three years by using them to narrate the story.

Over two thousand years ago, in the ancient city of Takkasila (known today as Taxila) located in North India (present day Pakistan), lived a dwarf named Nipunna. Though Nipunna was very small in size, he was a smart lad. Taxila was a famous centre of learning in ancient India. So Nipunna was able to receive a sound education from renowned acariyas (tutors or teachers). He also had the opportunity to share ideas with the brilliant students and scholars of Taxila. They came to the university-city from all regions of India and even from other parts of the world to 1study under the famous acariyas.

For centuries the English alphabet has been taught by associating the letter A with apple and so on to millions of children who never even saw an apple, let alone an apple tree! To continue with the conventional, cognitive-based methodology in teaching the alphabet is to deny the child affective and psycho-motor modes of learning. This novel alphabet book based on holistic education enables a child to master the alphabet and develop vocabulary in an interesting, enjoyable and fun-way of learning. Simultaneously, the child can learn human values and imbue noble life-ideals. In addition, the lessons enable the child to internalize knowledge through experiential learning. For example, the letter A is associated with altar. The significance of the altar is reinforced through the family’s daily religious activities such as offering flowers and incense. Also, by observing virtuous practices daily as a family, human values get internalized. For instance, the child is encouraged to be as fragrant as the flowers and incense offered. The seed for the child to grow up as a respected, responsible human being is thus planted. Such underlying human values can be simulated in the classroom as well as at home.

Easily one of the greatest and most enduring life-stories, it is bound to lift the spirits and touch the reader’s inner being. Powerful emotions and profound thoughts unfold as the glorious Prince Siddhartha is brought to life from the mists of history.

Siddhartha was deliberately shielded from the Imperfections and sufferings of life by his father, King Suddhodana. The King strove to ensure that his son became the prophesied Cakkavatti Raja (Universal King). Siddhartha chose instead to be a Dhamma Acariya (Universal Teacher of Truth) and profoundly changed the course of human history. What he achieved was not worldly power but immense power over his thoughts, speech and actions. His life-story classically illustrates that the cultivation of a wholesome mental self-culture is key to achieving that elusive inner peace and happiness all of us so earnestly seek.

The Siddhartha epic offers other invaluable lessons in life. It was through right aspiration, unyielding resolve and relentless perseverance that he realized his Supreme Attainment. He demonstrated that our goals in life rest within us and are to be actualized through self-reliance and self-effort. The challenges he surmounted, stirs the reader’s inspiration and shraddha to realize his or her innate talents and skills.

Children all over the world love riddles. From as early as age 7 years, riddles can easily and quickly be a favourite form of verbal amusement and an effective way of developing communication and language skills. Since children enjoy riddles, this invariably becomes a contagious fun-filled learning activity. Simultaneously, their young curious minds are simulated and their ability to articulate thoughts and ideas are sharpened. Further, their vocabulary expands effortlessly while they gleefully exchange riddles with family and friends. An interesting fun aspect of riddles is that often the expected answer does not tum out right as in words that can be cast to give an interesting twist to its meaning such as in puns and idioms.

The pleasure children derive from riddles is an invaluable gift that parents and teachers should provide. Their little ones would get inspired and create their own riddles in the process. Among other positive spin-offs, this greatly boosts their innate creativity and understanding of logical relationship of words, that in turn, enhances their overall intellectual prowess.

Beyond question, riddles present a most powerful learning educational tool in respect to developing proficiency in language in a fun-filled way.

Soma and Karuna lived in a village in Sri Lanka. They were blessed with a handsome son who they loved very dearly. They named him Priya, (love) because of the immense joy his birth had brought into their lives. Both Soma and Karuna spent many joyful times with Priya.
Each day after working hard in the rice field, Karuna would return home and delightfully play with his little Priya. Soma would join her beloved Karuna as soon as she completed cooking dinner and cleaning up the kitchen. Priya also happily welcomed the playful times that he had the good fortune to spend with his loving and caring parents.

Matu-Posaka is an edifying parable highlighting the supreme joy a young elephant experienced in caring after its blind mother that has touched the hearts of millions through the centuries. This moving story is 3 more relevant today than ever before. It inspires the younger generation to follow the noble example of Matu-Posaka. It also touches on a number of other important life-ideals, in particular the importance of nurturing a wholesome family life and fostering peaceful and harmonious societies.
The joy of honoring parents in their living years forms the central theme. This age-old moral principle which stood as a pillar of Asian culture has suffered serious erosion in the fast-paced modern world. In some countries, the situation has reached a point where governments had to enact laws compelling children to look after their aged parents. The way Matu-Posaka nursed his blind mother should move us humans who are far more intelligent, to honor and care for our parents in their twilight years.
The book is designed to cater for a wide readership. Parents can spend enjoyable time bonding with their child by reading the captions of the illustrations and narrating the events depicted. The illustrations by themselves graphically capture the essence of the parable. Adolescents, youth and adults can enjoy reading the story as a classic and at the same time benefit from the gems of wisdom it holds. Schools can use the text for staging a drama, encouraging the reading habit and simultaneously promoting proficiency in English.

The life story of Prince Siddhartha is presented in a simple, yet interesting and fun way to encourage the reading habit among children. The narration is intentionally spared an overload of details and elaboration of events and happenings that normally appear in a historical epic. The aim of the narration is to arouse the child’s innate curiosity. Simultaneously, the child would appreciate the gentle, kind and compassionate nature of Siddhartha. Parents, teachers and caregivers are to kindle the innate interest in the child to inquire and probe into many of the events and happenings in Siddhartha’s life-story. The child would naturally be motivated to read in greater detail about the prince’s nobleness, compassion, love, courage and wisdom as he or she grows up in life.

The child would hence develop a keen interest to read more about Siddhartha’s great conquest over evil through his righteousness. This would encourage the child to be a self-directed learner. Such a positive outcome would most certainly prove an invaluable asset in his or her life. In turn, this would help to promote an interest to read and learn more of the Buddha’s Noble Teachings. As the renowned Chinese Sage, Confucius, had stressed, “a picture is worth a hundred words”. Children would find the colorful illustrations in the book fascinating. They help to capture the emotions, drama and the glory that adorn Siddhartha’s life-story.

The Story King Bimbisara and unparallel father's love.

Children all over the world love riddles. From as early as age 7 years, riddles can easily and quickly be a favorite form of verbal amusement and an effective way of developing communication and language skills. Since children enjoy riddles, this invariably becomes a contagious fun-filled learning activity Simultaneously, their young curious minds are simulated and their ability to articulate thoughts and ideas are sharpened. Further, their vocabulary expands effortlessly while they gleefully exchange riddles with family and friends. An interesting fun aspect °Middles is that often the expected answer does note urn out right as in words that can be cast to give an interesting twist to its meaning such as in puns and idioms.

The pleasure children derive from riddles is an invaluable gift that parents and teachers should provide. Their hole ones would get inspired and create their own riddles in the process. Among other positive spin-offs, this greatly boosts their innate creativity and understanding of logical relationship of words, that in tum, enhances their overall intellectual prowess. Beyond question, riddles present a most powerful teaming educational tool in respect to developing proficiency in language in a fim-filled way.