High Commission of India
Colombo
***
PRESS RELEASE
Sri Lanka prays for the health
and well-being of the people of India
High Commission of India, on behalf of the
Government and people of India, expresses its sincere gratitude to the Clergy
and people of Sri Lanka for their continuing prayers and well wishes for their
brethren in India as a pandemic of epic proportions is being valiantly fought.
2. High Commissioner and
officials serving at the High Commission of India are overwhelmed by numerous
calls and messages they have received, in addition to the special ceremonies
that are being organized in different parts of Sri Lanka, for the health and
well-being of people of India.
3. Prayers and ceremonies
for the people of India have been held in different parts of Sri Lanka.
Chanting of ‘Rathna Sutra’ was held on several occasions in various Temples.
This includes the Kapilavastu Buddha Relics Chamber of Waskaduwa Rajaguru Sri
Subhuthi Maha Viharaya under the auspices of Most Ven. Dr Waskaduwe
Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thero on 29 April 2021; Bharatha Ashirvada Puja led by
Most Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha Nayake Thero at the Chamber of holy Buddha Relics
at Sri Bodhiraja Monastery in Embilipitiya on 1 May 2021; at different places
including the Agra Sravaka Viharaya, Maligakanda under the auspices of the
Mahabodhi society on the same day; at Thiriyaya Raja Maha Viharaya in
Trincomalee organized by Hon’ble Anuradha Yahampath, Governor of Eastern
Province on 2 May 2021; Bharatha Ashirvada Puja at Gangaramaya Temple on 3 May
2021; at Sri Naga Vihara in Jaffna on 5 May 2021 etc. Sri Lanka Broadcasting
Corporation and Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs are
jointly organizing a 7-day recital from 6 May 2021.
4. Hindu Religious Forum organized a special prayer
at Kandarmadam Nataraj Temple in Jaffna on 30 April 2021. Ved Paarayan and
Thirumurai recitals were also held as a part of these special prayers. Another
prayer was organized by the Shirdi Sai Center in Colombo on 2 May 2021. Another
special Puja dedicated to Goddess Dhanvantari for the health of people of India
shall be conducted at Mayurpathy Temple in Colombo on 7 May 2021. In addition,
Mahamritunjaya Yagya shall be held at all five Eshwarams in Sri Lanka on 8 May
2021.
5. Prayers were
held for India during the Sunday service at the Anglican Church on 2 May 2021.
Sri Lankan nationals from various walks of life who received their education in
India came together to express their solidarity with India on 27 April 2021.
Hashtags, such as ‘thinkingofindia’, ‘PrayForIndia’, are trending on social
media in Sri Lanka. There are also public calls for various other unique
solidarity gestures by several organizations and business enterprises.
6. It may be
recalled that President of Sri Lanka H.E Gotabaya Rajapaksa had expressed deep
empathy and concern in his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 28 April
2021. Prime Minister H.E Mahinda Rajapaksa conveyed his sentiments and
solidarity to Prime Minister Modi during the meeting with High Commissioner
Gopal Baglay on 29 April 2021.
7. High Commission
is touched and humbled by these prayers and well wishes, which is a true
reflection of the deep people to people connect and the millennia-old bonds
between India and Sri Lanka.
*****
Colombo
5 May 2021
PR Sinhala - Sri Lanka
prays for the health and well-being of the people of India
PR Tamil - Sri Lanka
prays for the health and well-being of the people of India
