COLOMBO : High Commissioner of India Santosh Jha inaugurated replica of King Ashoka’s Pillar of Dhamma in Vaishali at the Rajaguru Sri Subuthi Maha Viharaya in Waskaduwa at a ceremony held on 21 July .
- High Commissioner joined the Chief Incumbent of the Temple, Most Ven. Dr. Waskaduwawe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thero in inaugurating a special exposition of the Sacred Kapilavastu Relics in the Temple on the occasion. He also conveyed best wishes to the Most Ven. Mahanayake Thero on his birthday, and offered prayers for his long life.
- In his remarks on the occasion, Most Ven. Mahanayake Thero highlighted that this was the first Ashokan Pillar replica to be inaugurated in Sri Lanka. He spoke about King Ashoka’s important role in preserving Buddhist teachings, and also narrated the historical journey of the relics at the Temple. Most Ven. Mahanayake Thero also conveyed deep appreciation for the efforts of the Government of India under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for the preservation and promotion of Buddhist heritage.
- In his address, High Commissioner H.E Santosh Jha emphasized that this significant occasion reaffirms the deep historical, cultural and spiritual connect between India and Sri Lanka. Underscoring that Sri Lanka today stands as one of the foremost centres for Buddhist teachings and learning, he said that the shared Buddhist heritage is among the strongest of bonds uniting people of the two countries.
- He highlighted some of the initiatives being undertaken by India in Sri Lanka to further deepen this heritage, including a project underway to provide free solar electrification to nearly 10,000 Buddhist Viharas and Pirivenas; assistance announced for the Anuradhapura Sacred City Complex project; upcoming exposition in Sri Lanka of the Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha from Devnimori, Gujarat; earlier expositions of Sacred Relics from Sarnath and Kapilavastu; numerous pilgrimage trips and special visits facilitated to Sri Lankan devotees; special mobile exhibitions on the life of Lord Buddha; republishing of ancient Pali grammar treatises such as Namamala and Balawatharo; Sinhala translation of the Jataka Tales that are being distributed to Dhamma schools throughout the country; among others.
