The High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi, in collaboration with Buddhist Organizations in India organised a series of events in several Buddhist centres in India to celebrate the Tripitaka Week from 16 – 23 March 2019.
High Commissioner Austin Fernando participated at the first event of the series of events organised, which was held in Bodh Gaya on 16 March, together with the Sri Lankan devotees and leading Chief priests from several Buddhist centers in Bodh Gaya i.e. Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, India, Nepal and Laos. Addressing the event, High Commissioner at the outset made an overview of the historical evolution of Tripitaka and on the present project by the Government of Sri Lanka to list the Tripitaka with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Memory of the World Register. Speeches were made by the invitees and the Board members of the Maha Bodhi explaining the importance of Tripitaka and inscribing Tripitaka in the Memory of the World Register of the UNESCO and the speakers appreciated the initiative by President Maithripala Sirisena and the Government of Sri Lanka in preserving this national heritage.
Ven. H. Saddhatissa Thero, Bhikku in charge of Mahabodhi Society of India, Bodh Gaya Center made arrangements for the event. All volumes of the Tripitaka were on display at the event. The event was followed by an almsgiving for the Maha Sangha which was participated by about 150 participants.
A meeting was organised on 16 March for the Tripitaka Week in Varanasi at the Mulagandakuti Vihara, which was followed by an almsgiving at the same venue on 17 March. The meeting on 16 was followed with chanting of Dhamma Chakka Pavattana Sutta, blessing Sri Lanka, President of Sri Lanka and the Government. The alms giving was attended by many monks especially around 30 priests from Bangladesh were present. Ven. Medhankara Thero, Chief Monk of the Mulagandakuti Vihara explained the objective of the event and congratulated President Maithripala Sirisena for having taken this initiative.
Another special religious function relating to Tripitaka, was held on 17 afternoon, at the Jambudveepa - Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple, headed by the incumbent Chief Monk Ven. Sumedha Thero and organised by the Indo- Sri Lanka International Buddhist Association. It was attended by many leading Chief Buddhist Priests such as Prof. Medagama Nandawansa, Chief Sanga Nayaka of the Western Province of Sri Lanka, Head of Sri Lanka Vidyalaya, Colombo and Prof. Mahanuwara Seewalee, Professor of the Central Tibetan University in Varanasi and Chief Priest of the Western Buddhist Vihara, Mississauga, Toronto, Canada. Ven. Sumedha Thero explained the value of the action initiated by the President of Sri Lanka to list Tripitaka as a world heritage
and the importance of the Tripitaka, to the devotees from Sri Lanka who were present at the event. The High Commissioner having explained the follow up action by the Government of Sri Lanka requested the devotees present to take the message of listing the Tripitaka with UNESCO Memory of World Heritage to their communities. Everyone present was appreciative of this important Buddhist activity initiated by the President of Sri Lanka.
