Sanchi Pilgrims Rest work begins today

Chamikara WEERASINGHE in Sanchi, India

INDIA: A fully equipped rest hall (vishrama salawa) is to be built at the Sanchi Viharaya in India on the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the benefit of the Maha Sangha and Buddhist devotees worldwide visiting Sanchi on annual pilgrimage.

The project will be handled by the National Physical Planning Department of the Urban Development and Water Supply in association with the Maha Bodhi Society.

Urban Development and Water Supply Minister Dinesh Gunawardena will lay the foundation stone for the construction of the pilgrims' rest.

The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivaraj Patel will grace this occasion as a special guest.

The Sacred Buddha relics, leaves of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi and 60 leaves made in gold to be enshrined in the proposed Sanchi Rest hall were brought to the Budu Medura at the Janadhipathi Mandiraya, Colombo, for veneration and religious observances on Thursday (November 23) night.

Ven. Murungagaswewa Gnaneswara Chief Sanghanayake Thera of France delivering an anusasana on the occasion praised President Rajapaksa's commitment and dedication for the furtherance of Buddhism.

He also thanked the President for taking steps to set up a rest hall at Sanchi which he said would be a great relief for pilgrims.