Rajans in Texas Ready for More Action

After a brief silence Texas Chapter of DAANA has planned to organize and take part in several community service activities and some other projects. The goal is to enjoy by helping others as Rajans have always done.

• Volunteering (Sramadaana): On Saturday, September 5th, at Willies Meditation center in North Houston together with Sri Lankan Student Assoc. of University of Houston (SLSA) and Temple members.


• Blood drive: On Sunday, October 18th, at Houston Buddhist Vihara, together with Sri Lankan American Assoc. of Houston (SLAAH)


• Volunteering program in Greater Houston area: November/December

More details of these events will be published on this blog and are available through oldrajansusa@gmail.com and members of DAANA Texas Chapter. Participation of Rajans and well wishers is highly appreciated and will be critical to the success of all the events.

In addition, please keep your calendars open for the next get-together of DAANA Texas Chapter, which will be held somewhere in September or October. Any suggestions on where and how this should held are welcome from the old Rajans.

Final Stage of DAANA Book Drive

Texas Chapter has undertaken the responsibility of sorting and shipping of books to conclude the DAANA Book Drive by December. Collection of items for the Book Drive is open till end of October. Your contribution is highly valued and participation is greatly appreciated. Please contact DAANA to inform if you can contribute with anything listed here.

DAANA $tore is open 24/7 for business. Entire revenue will be dedicated to fund DAANA activities.

DAANA Texas Chapter Sponsors Damma Talk

Rajans in Texas are sponsoring the June damma talk at Houston Buddhist Vihara. For many from Dharmaraja College organizing damma talks is not something new. This is a good opportunity for building the strength as a group while serving the community. Organizing the function, arranging the necessary supplies and coordinating food preparation for the attendees are among the major responsibilities undertaken.

A well known meditation teacher from Mitirigala Nissarana Vana, Sri Lanka, Ven. Uda Iriyagama Dhammajiva will deliver the monthly damma talk. Ven. Dhammajiva has practised as a meditation master for over a decade and is meditation teacher and Deputy Abbot of Mitirigala, a monastery in the strict forest tradition in Sri Lanka. He trained under Ven. Matara Sri Gnanarama Mahathera (Sri Lanka) and Sayadaw U. Panditabhivamsa (Burma).

Particulars of the event are:

Date: Saturday, 6th June
Time: 7.00 p.m. - 8.30 p.m.
Venue: Houston Buddhist Vihara (HBV)
8727 Radio Road, Houston TX 77075

With the support of all the Rajans in Texas a well-organized evening of damma is expected to be achieved.


“Kalena damma sawanam - etham mangala muththaman,
Kalena damma sakachcha - etham mangala muththaman”

- Maha Mangala Sutta

Texas Rajans to Cricket Semis!

Winning Team:

Back: (L-R) Manthinda D, Milinda A, Lasitha L

Front (L-R): Ranil B, Sanka T, Kosala S, Asanka S

Cricket is not what Rajans in Texas do best but yet they proved that they are among the best even in cricket. Members of DAANA, Texas chapter participated in a six-a-side cricket tournament organized by the Sri Lankan community in Houston area on Memorial Day, 25th Monday. Without any preparation they managed to reach the semi finals of the tournament that had six competent teams.

The climax was reached in the last ball of the last over in the final qualifying match that determined who would be in the semi finals. Chasing 68 runs in the five-over match, Samaraweera brothers had brought Rajans close to the victory requiring only four off four balls. Kosala fell at this stage when he tried to clear the boundary for a six. Sanka went in to the middle to join Asanka to score four runs off last three balls. Even though, the plan was to give the strike to the in-form batsman, two balls were bowled without the bat meeting the ball. Tournament regulations did not allow byes! Sanka faced the last ball and he was yet to play a legal shot. Against the disciplined bowling attack, only a boundary could win the match and nobody in the ground was expecting one. Against all the odds, Rajans won the match qualifying for the semis with the four runs scored in the last ball!

Hope sporty trend of Rajans will continue throughout North America!

First DANAA Get-Together in Texas

Something everybody wanted for sometime is finally happening this Sunday. Even though, we Rajans have met in small groups at various locations in 'big' Texas, there hasn't been a gathering sepcifically as Rajans. Sanka took the intiative in organizing this event that will be the second ever old Rajan gathering in USA, after the first meeting oragnized by Rajans in DC/MD/VA.

A potluck might be a good way to start leaving adventureous and goal oriented gatherings to the future. In the near future we will have some work to do on the DANNA book drive and I don't think our schedules will hold us from going for a go kart ride.

Particulars for the event are given below:

Date: Sunday 26th
Time: 5.30 pm
Venue: Sanka's (Houston, TX 77030)

Please let us know if you need any information on how to get there. Families of all the Rajans are also invited! Let's make it a family event (Please RSVP to Sanka for head count).

There will be a Sinhala Awurudu festival in Houston in that morning if anybody is interested. Probably guys travelling from far might be able to hit two birds with one stone.


Caution: Please anticipate overwhelming old stories and revival of memories we thought we had forgotten long ago.

Ranil Banneyake

Behalf of DANNA Texas Chapter