Published On:Tuesday, 25 November 2014
Posted by Celebrate Life Style information Blog
President Rajapaksa Visits Lumbini
Kathmandu, 25 November, (Asiantribune.com):
Soon after arriving in Nepal,
President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Lumbini – the birthplace of the Lord Buddha
– one of the most sacred places for Buddhists.
Though it’s not the President’s
first time in Lumbini, he did participate in a number of events, with
particular significance to Sri Lankan Buddhists.
 |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa visits Lumbini – the birthplace of the Lord Buddha – one of the most sacred places for Buddhists, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014. The President is in Nepal to attend the 18th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Summit (SAARC) which starts on Wednesday, Nov. 26. |
President Rajapaksa first visited
and prayed at the Maya Devi Temple, named after Queen Maha Maya, Lord Buddha’s
Mother. Dating back to 623 B.C., this Temple houses the exact birthplace of
Lord Buddha. Situated at the foothills of the Himalayan mountain range, the
Maya Devi Temple was added to the list of UNESCO Heritage Sites in 1997.
After the President prayed at the
Temple, he attended a welcome ceremony organised by the Lumbini Development
Trust. Officials speaking at the function said they appreciated President
Rajapaksa’s “keen personal interest and contribution to the development of Lumbini.”
“We pray for your happiness,
prosperity and longevity,” a representative of the Trust said. “We are really
very much grateful for the remarkable visit.”
On the way to the Sri Lankaramaya
Temple, President Rajapaksa declared open a newly constructed bridge at Gate
No. 4. The bridge was built by the Sri Lankan Government as a service to
pilgrims who visit the site, because using the route along which the bridge is
located provides the shortest path to the Maya Devi Temple as well as the Sri
Lankaramaya Temple. The bridge was build at a cost of Rs. 34 million.
At the Sri Lankaramaya Temple,
President Rajapaksa worshipped the Sacred Bo Tree and spent some time speaking
with the priests and Sri Lankans who had come to welcome the President. This
Temple was also built by the Sri Lankan Government. President Rajapaksa visited
Lumbini in 2009 to inaugurate it. In addition to providing a service to
devotees both from Sri Lanka and other countries who visit Lumbini, this temple
has a specific purpose of working towards the propagation of Theravada Buddhism
throughout the world.
The fourth stop on President
Rajapaksa’s visit to Lumbini was the Lumbini Buddhist University (LBU) to open
a new administrative building. The Vice Chancellor of LBU Rev. Prof. Naresh Man
Bajracharya welcomed the President and briefed him on the activities of the
University.
“We would like to express
grateful appreciation for the kind cooperation and look forward to the
continuation and consolidation of the cooperation,” Prof. Bajracharya said. “I,
on behalf of LBU, would like to welcome you to LBU and express heartfelt gratitude
for your visiting LBU today.”
The President’s final stop
consisted of opening the newly renovated Dutugemunu Pilgrims Rest. Built in
1989, the facility had required refurbishment for quite some time. The Sri
Lankan Government stepped in to assist in the renovation, which was completed
at a cost of Rs. 138 million.
Monitoring MP of the Ministry of
External Affairs Mr. Sajin de Vass Gunawardena accompanied the President on the
Lumbini visit.
- Asian Tribune -
