The Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Bangkok, Thailand in collaboration with Sri Dalada Maligawa, Sri Lanka Tourism & Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya University (MCU) in Thailand presented the very first live telecast of Sri Lanka's most historic and colourful cultural event Esala Perahera Randoli in Sri Lanka on MCU TV Channel in Thai Language on 22 August, 2021. The Esala Perahera Randoli was also live streamed in Thai Language in social media platforms of Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya University in addition to the MCU TV for Thai Buddhist devotees.
Theravada Buddhism was introduced to Thailand from Sri Lanka and known as 'Lankawamsa' in Thailand and subsequently during the colonial period, when the foundation of Sri Lanka’s Buddhist monkhood eroded, Most Venerable Pra Upali Thero from Ayutthaya city in Thailand, then called 'Siam' re-established the higher ordination tradition, which is known as 'Siam Nikaya' in Sri Lanka. Today, Kandy in Sri Lanka and Ayuttaya in Thailand have been declared as sister cities.
The Esala Perahera Randoli was also live streamed in Khmer and Thai languages in Cambodia and Laos respectively in their social media.
During the pandemic of COVID-19 where many travel restrictions are in place, the live telecast from Kandy, Sri Dalada Maligawa, invoked blessings and brought back the spirit of rich religious and cultural heritage to the Buddhist devotees in the East Asia.
Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Bangkok
30 August 2021
