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CJ to Buddha Gaya, not Mahinda
President Mahinda Rajapaksa will not be attending the religious ceremonies conducted by the Indian Mahabodhi Society to be held in Buddha Gaya on February as announced by the Society earlier.

However Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva will deliver the keynote address at the function to be held on February 13 as part of the main religious ceremonies to coincide with the 2550 years of the Buddha Jayanthi.

The function will be graced by the world renowned Buddhist spiritual leader Dalai Lama, the Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter Venerable Udugama Buddharakkitha Thera as well as several Indian dignitaries.

The Mahabodhi Society of India in December announced that the Sri Lankan President was among the dignitaries tipped to attend the Buddha Jayanthi function.

A spokesman for the President’s Office said that President Rajapaksa would spearhead the Buddha Jayanthi celebrations in Sri Lanka starting from May this year which will continue till May, 2007. Recently, a controversy arose over the Dalai Lama’s visit to Sri Lanka. The Rajapakse government has vetoed the visit.
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