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The friendship between India and Sri Lanka is etched in time by the “Great Master”- Premier Modi
Praises Anagarika Dharmapala for his contribution to the revival of Buddhism both in Sri Lanka and India
President Maithripala Sirisena pays tribute to the Late Lakshman Kadirgamar for making UN Vesak Day a realityBy Chandani Kirinde
Pix by Amila Gamage
Centuries old relations between India and Sri Lanka held together by the common bond of Buddhism took center stage during the United Nations International Day of Vesak celebrations held in Colombo this week with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Chief Guest.
 During his brief visit to the country, Prime Minister Modi addressed the opening ceremony of the UN Day of Vesak conference at the BMICH on Friday morning and later in the day paid homage to the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha at the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. On Thursday, soon after his arrival in Colombo, he also visited the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo.
During his address to the Vesak Conference, Mr. Modi referred expansively to the centuries old ties between the two countries that have been cemented by the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka in the third century BC during the reign of one of India’s greatest rulers, King Ashoka.
“The divine fragrance of Buddhism spread from India to all corners of the globe. Mahindra and Sanghamitra, the worthy children of King Ashoka made their journey from India to Sri Lanka to spread the biggest gift of Dhamma.The friendship between India and Sri Lanka is etched in time by the “Great Master” and Buddhism imparts an ever present radiance to our relationship,” he said.
Mr. Modi said that the region is blessed to have given to the world the invaluable gift of the Buddha and his teachings.
“Bodh Gaya in India, where Prince Siddhartha became the Buddha, is the sacred nucleus of the Buddhist universe. Lord Buddha’s first sermon in Varanasi, which I have the honour to represent in Parliament, set in motion the wheel of Dhamma. Our key national symbols have taken inspiration from Buddhism. Buddhism and its various strands are deep seated in our governance, culture and philosophy,” he said.
The Indian Premier also praised Anagarika Dharmapala for his contribution to the revival of Buddhism both in Sri Lanka and India.
“Today, Sri Lanka takes pride in being among the most important nerve centers of Buddhist teachings and learning. Centuries earlier, Anagarika Dharmapala undertook a similar journey, but this time, from Sri Lanka to India to revive the spirit of Buddha in the land of its origin. In some way, you took us back to our own roots,” he said.
The Indian Premier added that the world owes a debt of gratitude to Sri Lanka for preserving some of the most important elements of the Buddhist heritage. “Vesak is an occasion for us to celebrate this unbroken shared heritage of Buddhism. A heritage that connects our societies across generations and through centuries.”
President Maithripala Sirisena in his address noted that the presence of the Indian Prime Minister at the UN Vesak Day celebrations has drawn the attention of the entire world to the message of compassion and tolerance preached by Lord Buddha.
He also paid tribute to the late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar ,who , during the period of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike worked tirelessly to have Vesak Day declared as an International Day of Observance at the UN.
“Holding an International Vesak Day in Sri Lanka is not only important to us. It is a great endeavour for the whole world, and an important day, not only to the Buddhist community, but also for non-Buddhist communities,” he said.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe quoted the words of Indian spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda to describe the far reach of Lord Buddha’s teachings. “Buddhism is historically the most important religion — historically, not philosophically — because it was the most tremendous religious movement that the world ever saw, the most gigantic spiritual wave ever to burst upon human society. There is no civilization on which its effect has not been felt in some way or other,” the Prime Minister said quoting Swami Vivekananda.
Later on Friday, the Indian Prime Minister, accompanied by President Sirisena visited the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy.
The Indian Prime Minister described the Dalada Maligawa as “a centre of immense spiritual importance.”
| 16,000 candles from India’s historic Digbou refinery The Government of India gifted 16,000 candles as a special gift from the people of India to the people of Sri Lanka to mark the auspicious occasion of Vesak. The first consignment of candles will be handed over to the Dalada Maligawa by the Indian High Commission in Colombo. The candles have been specially handcrafted from the paraffin wax produced at the world’s oldest operating refinery in Digboi in Assam in North Eastern India. The historic Digbou refinery commissioned in 1901 is considered the birth place of the Indian Oil Industry. It is operated by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC), India s largest commercial enterprise with a sales turnover of $61 billion. Lanka IOC PLC, the subsidiary of IOC has been operating in Sri Lanka since 2002. |