PM Modi to be the chief guest at UN-recognised Vesak Day celebrations

Colombo:Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka, will be the chief guest at the UN-recognised 14th International Vesak Day. He will attend the opening ceremony of the Vesak Day celebrations here on Friday.

Sanjay Bhatnagar
Published on: 12 May 2017 5:15 AM GMT
PM Modi to be the chief guest at UN-recognised Vesak Day celebrations
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PM Modi to be the chief guest at UN-recognised Vesak Day celebrations

Colombo:Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka, will be the chief guest at the UN-recognised 14th International Vesak Day. He will attend the opening ceremony of the Vesak Day celebrations here on Friday.

The Indian Prime Minister also met Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena here ahead of the "International Vesak Day" celebrations.

ALSO READ: PM Modi prays at Sri Lanka’s oldest Buddhist temple, lights up lamps

After meeting Prez Sirisena, Modi took to twitter and posted, "Delighted to meet President @MaithripalaS in Colombo."

On his part, Sirisena said in a tweet: "It is wonderful to meet this great human being @narendramodi in Colombo again. Thank you for gracing #InternationalVesakDay."

This is the first time that Sri Lanka will be hosting the International Vesak Day. The theme of the event is "Buddhist teachings for social justice and sustainable world peace".

The International Vesak Day is celebrated to mark the birth, enlightenment and passing away of Lord Buddha.

ALSO READ: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to leave for two-day visit to Sri Lanka

This is Modi's second trip to Sri Lanka as Prime Minister after March 2015 and the visit follows an invitation from Sirisena.

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Soon after his arrival, Modi took part in a traditional lamp lighting ceremony at a Buddhist temple here as part of the International Vesak Day celebrations.

"In holy sanctum. PM @narendramodi visits Gangaramaya temple @ d famous Beira Lake, lights lamps @ temple on Vesak Day eve," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay tweeted.

It may be mentioned that:

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  • Modi will open an India-funded 150-bed multi-speciality hospital at Dickoya in the central hill district which is home to Tamil tea plantation workers of Indian origin.
  • The Indian Prime Minister will also pray at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic at Kandy in central Sri Lanka. The golden-roofed Kandy temple houses Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist relic -- a tooth of Lord Buddha.
  • In Pallekele, Modi will unveil a plaque commemorating the foundation laying of the Faculty of Kandyan Dance at the Sri Lankan International Buddhist Academy that will be constructed with India's grant assistance.
  • Although no bilateral talks are scheduled, the visit is expected to give fresh boost to India-Sri Lanka ties.

Sanjay Bhatnagar

Sanjay Bhatnagar

Writer is a bi-lingual journalist with experience of about three decades in print media before switching over to digital media. He is a political commentator and covered many political events in India and abroad.

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