Sinhala Buddhists should visit Pakistan - Prof. J. B. Dissanayake
COLOMBO: Sinhala Buddhists should be encouraged to visit Pakistan as
they do to Buddhagaya, for the Relics of the Buddha are also preserved
in Pakistan, thanks to the Pakistani Government and its Cultural
Ministry, Prof. J. B. Dissanayake Ambassador designate to Thailand said.
Addressing those present at the launching of the Sinhala translation
of ‘Buddhist Gandara - History, Art and Architecture’ at the Hilton
Hotel on Monday, the Professor said that Sri Lanka highly appreciated
the efforts of the Pakistan Government to preserve the Relics of the
Gauthama Buddha, a treasure valued by Buddhists around the world.
Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told the
gathering that he was surprised to see how Pakistan, a Muslim country
has preserved the Buddhist heritage.
“My visit to the those Museums in Pakistan helped, me to relive what
I had studied in the classroom about the Buddha and His way from
Sathsathiya to Parinirvana. We are more than grateful to the Pakistani
Government for taking steps to protect our Buddhist Heritage though it
is a Muslim country now”.
Prof. Tilak Hettiarchchi, Vice Chancellor of the Colombo University
who made the keynote address commended the efforts of the Pakistani High
Commission in Sri Lanka in introducing the Buddhist heritage found in
Pakistan for the edification of the devotees and the general public.
He said that Pakistan is in possession of another Relic of the Buddha
and have exposed to the world the Buddhist heritage without hiding their
past.
He said before partition the Buddha was in one country but with the
creation of Pakistan, a part of the Buddhist heritage went to that
country too and although the country is a Muslim country , they have not
destroyed what history has given them but have taken pains to protect it
and thus given a lesson in cohabitation and co-existence of various
faiths.
Pakistan High Commissioner Shahzad A. Chaudhry said that it was
important for Sri Lankans in general and Buddhists in particular to know
the rich heritage and shared bonds with the historical lands of Gandara
and Thakshila held in great respect and reverence even today by his
country as a treasured part of the past and present of his country.
The book ‘Buddhist Gandara, History, Art and Architecture’ by world
famous Pakistani Archaeologist and Museologist Ihsan H. Nadiem was
translated into Sinhala by M.S. Hussein.
It was launched by handing over the first copy to the Mahanayake of
the Asgiriya Chapter the Most Ven. Udugama Sri Dhammadassi
Buddharakkitha Thera by the High Commissioner in the presence of
Ministers, Members of Parliament, scholars, businessmen and media
personnel. |