Dalai Lama meets Sri Lanka’s Atamasthanadhipathi

In a landmark moment for global Buddhism, a historic meeting took place today between the Most Venerable Dr. Pallegama Hemarathana Nayake Thero, the Atamasthanadhipathi of Sri Lanka, and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the world-renowned icon of universal compassion.

This encounter marks a watershed moment in the centuries-old relationship between Indo-Tibetan and Sri Lankan Buddhist traditions. It is the first time in recorded history that the spiritual heads of these two preeminent lineages have met in such a significant capacity, drawing the attention of the global Buddhist community.

The position of Atamasthanadhipathi carries immense prestige within the Buddhist world. By ancient royal decree, Sri Lanka recognizes three supreme pillars of Buddhist heritage: Sri Dalada Maligawa (The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic), Sri Pada (The Sacred Footprint), and the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi. As the custodian of the Eight Sacred Places (Atamasthana) in Anuradhapura, the Atamasthanadhipathi holds a position of profound spiritual and legal authority.

The meeting between the guardian of Sri Lanka’s most ancient living heritage and the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people signifies a powerful unification of the Pali and Sanskrit Buddhist traditions.

Adding a layer of deep emotional significance to the visit, the Most Venerable Thero presented His Holiness with a sacred sapling of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi.

For decades, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has expressed a profound desire to perform a pilgrimage to the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura—the oldest historically documented tree in the world, grown from a branch of the original Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained Enlightenment. While past circumstances prevented such a journey, the arrival of this authentic sapling brings the spirit of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi directly to His Holiness, fulfilling a long-held aspiration.

The sacred sapling is scheduled to be planted tomorrow, January 21, during a grand ceremony at the Buddhist University within the Gaden Jangtse Monastery complex. The event will be conducted with full monastic honors and is expected to be attended by tens of thousands of Tibetan monastics and devotees from across India and abroad.

This “Green Diplomacy” initiative stands as a testament to the enduring bond between the people of Sri Lanka and India, ensuring that the roots of the Dhamma continue to grow deep and wide for generations to come.