In November 1961, Mrs Bandaranaike, the Founder President of the Vipassana Meditation Centre, inaugurated the new building of the organisation. Since 1955, this centre had been devoted to meditation. The brainchild of Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, the Centre is located in the heart of the city of Colombo and was nurtured by Mrs Bandaranaike throughout her lifetime.