06th March 2022 14:26:55 Hours
The Ambassador of China in Sri Lanka, H.E. Qi Zhenhong, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, General Shavendra Silva, Embassy officials and representatives of Sri Lanka-China Buddhist Friendship Association and a gathering of invitees this morning (26) joined a Buddhist religious programme to chant ‘Seth Pirith’ concurrently at the historic Abhayagiriya Temple at Anuradhapura and Sri Lanka Vidyalaya Maradana with collaboration of historical Buddhist temples in China to mark the 65th Anniversary of Sri Lanka-China Diplomatic relations.
The Minister of Regional Cooperation Hon. Tharaka Balasuriya joined this program from Abhayagiriya Temple in Anuradhapura representing the government of Sri Lanka while H.E Dr. Palitha Kohona, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in China joined virtually at the same time from Ling Guan Temple in Beijing, a historical temple, where the Buddha’s Tooth Relic is kept in China.
The President of Sri Lanka-China Buddhist Friendship Association, Mr. Sumathi Dharmawardana invited General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army to participate in the event at Abhayagiriya Rajamaha Viharaya considering the significance of the project. Offer of flowers, Gilanpasa Pooja & Deheth paved the way for the project’s start.
The Anu Nayaka Thero of the Asgiriya Chapter, Ven. Anamaduwe Sri Dhammadassi Nayake Thero, Ruwanweli Maha Seya Incumbent, Dr Pallegama Hemaratana Nayake Thero and a host of monks attended the ‘Daham Hamuwa’ at the same location. Ven. Dr. Kallanchiye Rathnasiri Thera, Chief Incumbent of the historical Abhayagiri Viharaya organized the day’s proceedings.
The Sri Lanka-China Buddhist Friendship Association and the Buddhist Association of China with Ven Dr. Kallanchiye Rathnasiri Thero, the Chief Incumbent of the historical Abhayagiri Viharaya selected the Abhayagiriya sacred place in view of the ancient bonds of religious harmony that prevailed between both countries. Ven Fa-Xian of China lived and studied Buddhism in the 4th Century at the historical Abhayagiriya Temple and records confirm that Bhikkuni Dewasara around 429 CE led a delegation to China with a sapling of the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya and established the Bhikkuni order in China. Buddhist relations between Sri Lanka and China predated the current diplomatic relations as strong pillars of the friendship between two countries.
Around the same occasion on Saturday (26), the Buddhist Association of China had made arrangements for monks, led by Most Ven Chang Zang Thero of the Ling Guan Temple in Beijing and Most Ven Ming Sheng Thero of the Putuao Temple in Zhuhai, Guangdong to join on-line ‘Pirith’ chanting programme to commemorate the 65th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between two countries.
