Speaker Karu Jayasuriya who visited Ha Noi last week, at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart, Madam Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân, President of the National Assembly, presented relics of the Lord Buddha to Viet Nam at the end of bilateral discussions.
The relics would be deposited with a befitting traditional ceremony at a famous Vietnamese temple in Ha Noi in the near future. Vietnamese government as well as the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha highly appreciated the gift of relics.
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya was accompanied by members of the Sri Lanka – Viet Nam Parliamentary Friendship Group comprising of Members of Parliament Ramesh Pathirana, Bimal Ratnayake, Vidura Wickramanayake, Sujith Sanjaya Perera and Buddhika Pathirana. Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Neil Iddawala and two other officials were also associated with the visit.
During the bilateral meeting, the need for intensifying economic cooperation to achieve the target of bilateral trade of 1 billion US dollars as agreed by the two Prime Ministers in April 2017 was discussed. Further, the importance of collaborating in non-competitive ways by sharing expertise to enhance competency of each country through technical cooperation was highlighted. Both sides also agreed on the importance of direct air connectivity and cultural promotion to encourage tourism both ways.
Speaker Jayasuriya placed a wreath at the Mausoleum of the late President Ho Chi Minh and had a tour of the Palace gardens where the simple living quarters of the late President is located.
During the 04-day stay in Ha Noi, the Speaker and his delegation also called on the Secretary General of the Viet Nam Communist Party.
Mr. Jayasuriya also visited Ninh Binh Province and was hosted for lunch by its Governor, Madam Nguyen Thi Thanh, Secretary of the Communist Party of the Ninh Binh Province, and other leaders of the Province. In addition, he visited Trang An Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which has been developed for tourism on public – private sector partnership basis, first of its kind in Viet Nam. Later, he visited Bai Dinh Pagoda, constructed in 2003, covering 700 ha with the largest gold-plated bronze Buddha statue in Asia, which also happens to be the venue for the United Nations Vesak Day Celebrations in 2014.
The visiting Speaker also called on Most Ven. Thich Thanh Nhieu, Standing Deputy of the Executive Council of Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha, at the Quang Su Pagoda, the Headquarters of Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha. Most Ven. Thich Thanh Nhieu appreciated the gift of the relics as well as the possibility of receiving a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi.
Later, on 27 April, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya was the Chief Guest at the 3 day event titled “Sri Lanka in Ha Noi: A Cultural Fiesta”, organized by the Embassy of Sri lanka in Ha Noi.
