President engaged to revive links with Theravada Buddhist countries

Sihanadha organization, a body of academics, has submitted a set of proposals for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to revive Sri Lanka’s diplomatic relations with the countries and the regions with Theravada Buddhist traditions.

Senior lecturer Sumedha Weerawardhana of Peradeniya University told Daily Mirror on behalf of the organization that Sri Lanka should rediscover its links with the Theravada Buddhist countries- Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.  

“Sri Lanka is yet to have resident missions in Cambodia and Laos despite them being the countries with Theravada Buddhist countries. Besides, there are regions with such traditions in China and Vietnam. Yunan province of China is one of them. We are asking the President set up consular offices in Kunming which is the capital of Yunan. Also, we would like the President to take steps for such a mission in Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam,” he said.

Asserting that Theravada Buddhism travelled to these countries from Sri Lanka, he said Sri Lanka should start fresh cultural exchanges with these countries for both religious and tourism benefits.  

“The President was elected by the Buddhists in main this time. Scholarship of Sri Lankan Buddhist monks on Pali language is excellence. In fact, theirs is the best. Sri Lanka should conduct a test on the Pali language at international level,” he said.

He also said Sri Lanka should take the initiative to set up an internationally accredited Pirivena as the seat of Theravada Buddhist learning.

“We also included a proposal for international grouping of Theravada Buddhist countries in similar line with SAARC or any such body,” he said. (Kelum Bandara)