11 May 2020 04:22 pm
The High Commissioner-designate of India Gopal Baglay offered prayers to The Buddha through a video call each to the Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Mahanayake Thero of the Asgiriya Nikaya and the Most Venerable NiyangodaVijithasiri AnunayakeThero of the Malwatte Nikaya in the morning.
The High Commissioner-designate prayed for the health, happiness, peace and prosperity of the people of Sri Lanka and India.
He also stressed that Buddhism is one of the strongest pillars connecting the two nations and civilizations from the time when the Great Indian Emperor Ashoka sent his children Arahat Mahinda and Theri Sangamitta to spread the teachings of the Buddha at the request of King Devanampiyatissa of Sri Lanka. He sought the Buddha’s blessings in further strengthening the multifaceted ties between the two friendly maritime neighbours.
The Most Venerable Mahanayake and the Most Venerable Anunayake welcomed the High Commissioner-designate to Sri Lanka and blessed him for a happy and fruitful tenure here.
The High Commissioner-designate had arrived in Sri Lanka on 08 May 2020 during the auspicious week of Vesak onboard a special aircraft carrying the fourth gift consignment of essential medicines and medical items weighing 12.5 tonnes from India to Sri Lanka.