The High Commissioner of India has held meetings with Venerable Senior Monks of the Maha Sangha, to address their concerns about the two recent unfortunate incidents involving assaults on Sri Lankan Buddhist monks in Tamil Nadu state of India. He has underlined that these were isolated incidents and did not reflect the strong people-to-people bonds that have been an integral part of the close historical, cultural and civilizational ties between the two countries. In this context, he recalled the statement of the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India on 19th March 2013, expressing concern and reiterating that the state government of Tamil Nadu had taken immediate action to identify and prosecute the miscreants responsible for these incidents. The Government of India, in consultation with the concerned state governments, has taken and will continue to take all possible measures to ensure the safety, security and well-being of Sri Lankan visitors to India, including to Tamil Nadu.
The meeting at India House on 23 March 2013 was attended by Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero; Ven. Banagala Upatissa Nayaka Thero; Ven. Kirima Wimalajoti Nayaka Thero; Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero; Ven. Thiniyawala Palitha Thero; Ven. H. Kondangna Thero; Ven. Galagoda Attha Gnanasara Thero and Mr. Vasantha De Silva, Secretary Mahabodhi Society. Ven. Banagala Upatissa Nayaka Thero, the Chief Incumbent of the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka, briefed the gathering and expressed appreciation towards the extensive arrangements made by the Tamil Nadu police in recent days, to provide security for Sri Lankan pilgrims. The Venerable Senior Monks underlined the need for a closer dialogue between civil society and religious leaders on the two sides, to avoid such incidents. A proposal to initiate such a dialogue would be pursued in the coming days and months.
During another meeting on 20 March 2013, attended by Ven. Prof. Bellanwilla Wimalaratna Anunayake Thero; Ven. Dr. Itapana Damalankara Anunayake Thero; Ven. Dr. Brahmanawathe Sivalee Thero; Ven. Dr. Akuretiye Nanda Thero; Ven. Dr. Nagoda Amarawansa Thero; and Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero, there was a useful exchange of views on the need to enhance security for Sri Lankan pilgrims and to maintain the centuries-old cultural and civilizational links. It was agreed that the High Commission would hold consultations with the Ministry of Buddhasasana Affairs on any additional measures required in this regard. The Deputy High Commissioner had accordingly met Mr. M.K.B. Dissanayake, Secretary, Buddhasana Affairs, on 21 March, to follow up on this suggestion.
The High Commissioner noted that the cultural interaction between India and Sri Lanka had been intense, resulting in constant cross-fertilization in the spheres of art, literature, culture and philosophy. The journey of the Holy Tree from India to Sri Lanka and back, nurtured by the soil of both lands and sustained through the caring hands of Indians and Sri Lankans, symbolized this exchange of ethos. In keeping with this spirit, it had been our joint endeavor to further enrich this heritage, which we continued to cherish. The successful organization of an exposition of Sacred Kapilavastu Relics in Sri Lanka last year after a gap of 34 years, the visit of H.E. the President of Sri Lanka to India in September 2012 to inaugurate the University of Buddhist and Indic Studies at Sanchi and a series of events organized by our two countries to jointly commemorate the 2600th anniversary of the Attainment of Enlightenment by Lord Buddha (Sambuddhatva Jayanthi), stood testimony to this fact. People-to-people contacts constitute one of the fundamental pillars on which the edifice of the bilateral relationship rests. It is noteworthy that nearly 250,000 Sri Lankan nationals visited India and over 175,000 Indian nationals visited Sri Lanka in 2012. Sri Lanka´s bonds with India, including the state of Tamil Nadu, are historic and go back many centuries. A substantial number of the Sri Lankan nationals visiting India travel through Chennai, be it for purposes of tourism, pilgrimage or shopping. Of the 128 flights connecting Indian and Sri Lankan cities, 76 involve destinations in Tamil Nadu. In order to get a true perspective, the isolated incidents of attacks on Sri Lankan nationals should be seen against these important facts.
