By Mewati Sitaram
On September 17, 2024, High Commissioner Santosh Jha presented a 4-foot-tall Buddha statue to Colombo’s Dharmayathanaya Temple. The event, attended by Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, celebrated Binara Poya and the 160th anniversary of Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala. It was held to mark both the Binara Poya and the 160th birth anniversary of Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala.
The statue, weighing nearly 330 kg, was specially commissioned by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations at the request of the Sri Lankan Prime Minister. It depicts Lord Buddha in the Dharmachakra Mudra, which represents the moment Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining Enlightenment at Sarnath, signifying the initiation of the ‘Wheel of Dhamma.’
The event also included a tree plantation ceremony as part of the #Plant4Mother campaign. Prime Minister Gunawardena and High Commissioner Jha participated in planting Idda saplings within the temple grounds.
The ceremony highlights the deep Buddhist heritage shared by India and Sri Lanka. To strengthen this bond, Indian PM Modi announced a USD 15 million grant in 2020 for solar electrification of 9000 temples in Sri Lanka, with an additional USD 17 million credit line for over 4000 more temples.
The Indian High Commission and its consulates continue to advance Buddhist ties between India and Sri Lanka through various initiatives.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
