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by Nemsiri Mutukumara

Twenty-five years ago, Sri Lankan people of all the religious and ethnic communities joined together in a splendid demonstration of unity in diversity in giving a fitting reception to the Sacred Relics of Buddha Sakyamuni brought to Sri Lanka from the Jambudipa - the ancient land of the Buddhas. Twenty-two pieces of Sacred Relics were found in the Kingdom of King Suddhodana, the father of Sakyamuni.

Growing friendly relations between Sri Lanka and India were extremely cordial for the Indian Minister of Culture Pratap Chandra Chunder to promptly respond magnificiently to the request of Edwin Lokubandara Hurulle for a portion of Buddha relics for enshrined in a dagaba for homage and veneration of Sri Lankan people.

The first step towards the devout request was to bring the Sarvagna dhatu for exposition in Sri Lanka.

Elaborate arrangements were made for a massive exposition of the sacred relics in 95 centres throughout the nine provinces - with the curtain raiser Exposition held at the Vidyodaya Pirivena Maligakanda, with the participation of the Maha Sangha led by the Mahanayaka Thera and the Vidyodaya Parivenadhipati, the Venerable Rajakiya Pandita Akuratiye Amaravamsa Nayaka Thera.

The colourful motorcade associated with all state honours, the sacred relics were conveyed from the Bandaranaike International Airport - Katunayaka to the Pirivena with the motorcade entering the Northern entrance to the Capital, a heavy downpour greeted the motorcade clearing all the dust and dirt on the day streets during the preceding rainless months.

Minister Hurulle recalling the honour given by the people said the Roman Catholic Priests teamed up with his flock and all others in a display of religious amity erected a pandal in his area in Madakalapura (Batticaloa) and showed the Christian Community's catholicism to their Buddhist brothren.

When the motorcade toured Ja-Ela, the Christians decorated either side of the road with flags and banners and the six-colour Buddhist flag. The Roman Catholic priests provided a motor-cycle escort from the entrance to the city of Ja-Ela to the venue for the exposition. In Varana - a famous seat of Buddhist pilgrimage, the Muslim adherents received the motorcade with due honour and walked with the motorcade to the Temple where the exposition was held.

This writer - as a representative of the Daily News covering the sacred Relics exposition, witnessed the most historic spectacle that took place in the Northern province when the Member of Parliament of Jaffna R. Yogeswaran a member of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi or the Federal Party, carrying the Sarvagna Dhatu Karanduva on his head to the Naga Viharyaa in the Town.

Speaking to me, he said, "this is a National honour to the Buddha. The Sacred Relics are brought to my constituency where I am the first citizen. My bounden duty is to give the fullest honour on behalf of my people which include Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and Muslims. Travelling with me was staff photographer Jayanta Divisekera who had clicked more than a reel of film on that event alone.

Yogesvaran was followed by Jaffna Government Agent Lionel Fernando. At the Naga Vihara is a long live of people of Jaffna, Nagadipa and from many other islands had gathered to pay homage to the sacred relics. The Venerable Kadavedduwe Sri Nandarama Nayaka Thera had made all arrangements to explain to the non-Sinhala speaking people, in Tamil the significance of the historic occasion and the importance of the sacred object and the merit one would accrue in paying homage to the sacred relics which in short is worshipping the Buddha himself.

In the Central, Sabaragamuva, Western and Southern provinces, the Upasikas offered the sacred relics their gold ornaments - chains, bangles, rings, silver jewellery and money as well never witnessed in any previous occasion where the Sacred Relics was offered Atapirikara in such large number by the devout people.

All Atapirikara were offered to the Bhikkhu Sangha since those pirikara could not be stored in such large measure in one place. Mr. Hurulle said, all ornaments - gold, silver, gems, jewellery and cash were deposited in the Bank of Ceylon.

Now that the countrymen are once again - after the passage of 25 years have realised the value of unity and brotherhood and taking part in each others religious festivals, functions and cultural events - the trend must be given a further boost and encouragement by state and society. Every right-thinking, peaceful and peace-loving person should give fullest support to the construction of the Dagaba in the New Administrative Capital of Sri Jayavardhanapura-Kotte which was a flourishing kingdom of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

Already, India is prepared to honour its commitment made by the then Minister Pratap Chandra Chunder to Mr. Hurulle.

Buddhists in particular have been thinking loud in restoring the many dagabas and mediavel viharas in the Jayavardhanapura kingdom.

The Kapilavastu Relics Dagaba will be a Dagaba with a difference. The people paying homage to the Sacred Relics will be able to see with their own eyes the Sacred Relics in the Centre inside the Dagaba which will also have the entire Relics Exposition story of 1978 will be shown in the wall painting.

The new Dagaba at Sri Jayavardhanapura will not only attract many millions of Buddhists from all over the world, Buddhists of India will make annual pilgrimages to Kapilavastu Relics Dagaba since they are unable to see the Sacred Relics with their eyes in their own country due to the absence of a dagaba.

Sri Lanka's tourism will get a big turnout of tourists to see the Sacred Relics of Sakyamuni Buddha as they never see in their own countries no in other parts of the world including Buddhist lands.

Above all, the internally, the spiritual advancement of the people will be enhanced when they know and see what they are doing particularly when it comes to the worship of Sacred Relics.

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