Colombo, February 5 — Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi met Sri Lanka’s Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Hiniduma Sunil Senevi in Parliament, Colombo, to discuss strengthening cultural cooperation and promoting their shared Buddhist heritage. The High Commission of India in Sri Lanka posted on X that the delegation and the minister exchanged views on deepening regional cultural ties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for inaugurating the Exposition of the Holy Devnimori Relics at the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo. Modi noted that during his April 2025 visit it was agreed the relics would be brought to Sri Lanka so people could pay their respects, and he emphasized the deep civilisational and spiritual bonds between the two nations, expressing the hope that the Buddha’s message of compassion, peace and harmony will guide humanity.
The visit and exposition follow the commitment made during PM Modi’s April 2025 trip to bring the sacred relics from India for public veneration. President Dissanayake welcomed the Sacred Relics to Sri Lanka for public veneration at Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple until the 11th, and publicly thanked PM Modi and the Government of India for fulfilling the promise.
The holy relics arrived in Sri Lanka on Wednesday morning for what has been described as the first-ever international exposition. A high-level Indian delegation led by Governor Acharya Devvrat and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi personally carried the relics to the aircraft for departure from India. (ANI)
