Exposition of sacred relics to be conducted around the clock from Wednesday

By Anjula Mahika Weeraratne  

The exposition of sacred relics of the Buddha brought from the Indian state of Gujarat is to be conducted between February 4 and 11 at the historic Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo.  

The Exposition will be conducted around the clock in order for a maximum number of devotees to venerate them. This was decided at a special meeting held at the Colombo District Secretariat under the auspices of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. Chief Prelate of the Gangaramaya Temple Ven, Kirinde Assaji Nayaka Thera, Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala, Colombo District Coordinating Committe Chairman Lakshman Nipunaarachchi MP and Colombo District Secretary Prasanna Janaka Kumara also participated in the discussion.  

It was also decided to arrange separate queues for foreign tourists, expectant mothers and people with disabilities. These sacred relics of Buddha which were discovered from Indian state of Gujarat in the Sixties have never been taken out of India before and they were brought to Sri Lanka following discussions between President Anura Kumara Dissanayke and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the former’s visit to India.   

Transport and sanitary facilities for the hundreds of thousands of devotees who are expected to throng the Gangaramaya Temple were also discussed during the meeting headed by the Prime Minister.