During an official visit to the state of Chhattisgarh, High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam called on the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Dr Raman Singh, at Mahanandi Bhawan, the new Secretariat building of the new capital, Naya Raipur, on 4th January 2013. The High Commissioner met the Minister of Tourism & Culture Brij Mohan Agrawal and other senior officials as well.
High Commissioner Kariyawasam was the Guest of Honour at the inauguration of the three day ‘National Dance & Music Festival’ held at Sirpur, Chhattisgarh at the invitation of the Hon Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh.
Sirpur is an ancient city which thrived in the 5th to 7th century AD on the banks of the river Mahanadi as a major trading centre and as a Buddhist and Hindu religious centre. Several important Buddhist and Hindu monuments have been recently excavated in Sirpur manifesting its glorious past. At the Inauguration of the Festival, Chief Minister Dr Singh, welcoming the High Commissioner, stated that like Sri Lanka, Sirpur is well-known for its Buddhist heritage, as Sirpur’s past was replete with ancient Buddhist monuments which may soon become a place of interest for all Buddhists.
High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam in his remarks as the Guest of Honour, appreciating the progress made by Chhattisgarh State since its creation in the year 2000, and underlining the importance of preserving ancient Buddhist cultural heritage in Sirpur, complimented the authorities in Chhattisgarh for their efforts in discovering the ancient glory of Sirpur.
The Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh presented a copy of “Chhattisgarh 2013” which depicts the potential of the State for international trade and business to the High Commissioner during their bilateral meeting in Naya Raipur and indicated the desire to develop greater linkages between Sri Lanka and the State of Chhattisgarh and to promote people to people contact for tourism and business.
High Commissioner Kariyawasam visited several Buddhist sites in Sirpur during his stay and observed at first hand the efforts taken to unearth and preserve such important historical sites by the authorities in Chhattisgarh.
Sri Lanka High Commission
New Delhi
7th January, 2013
