International Buddhist University in Sanchi on Lanka’s request

Rasika Somarathna

An International Buddhist University will be established in Sanchi, India in the near future in accordance with a request made by Sri Lanka, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told reporters in Colombo yesterday.

Chouhan who met President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister D.M.Jayaratne and several other senior Government officials during his visit said during deliberations more important decisions too were taken which he described as ones which would further strengthen existing economic, cultural and religious ties between India and Sri Lanka.

He said the Madya Pradesh administration had already identified a 65 acre land as the site for the proposed University and had allocated Rs. 25 million for the project which is to be a joint venture between Sir Lanka and India supported by the Maha Bodhi Society.

The proposal for the University had been put forward when former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka and Minister Dinesh Gunewardana visited Sanchi to open a pilgrims rest some time back.

Chouhan also said plans were afoot to upgrade the Bopal Airport to international level and establish a separate airstrip in Sanchi to facilitate Buddhist pilgrims.

He said during discussions with President Rajapaksa he had got a positive response to a request made by him to extend air travel to Sanchi as well when the airport is upgraded.

Initiatives to boost bilateral ties too had being discussed with Sri Lanka being invited to a World Trade Summit to be held in Madya Pradesh on October 22 and 23. A Madya Pradesh trade delegation is to visit Sri Lanka shortly.

According to Chauhan, Sri Lanka and India will jointly hold religious functions for three days in Sanchi to mark the 2600th Buddha Jayanthi shortly.

A project to form a religious hub combining seven important places of religious worship for Buddhists in Madya Pradesh too is in the offing.

During his visit, Chauhan also laid the foundation stone to build a new Seetha temple in Sri Lanka.

The land in this connection had been donated by a Buddhist monastery.

While expressing gratitude to the Buddhist monastery for providing land to construct the temple, Chauhan said the proposed site would stand as a monument to Buddhist-Hindu unity.

Water Resources Minister Dinesh Gunawardana said the proposed initiatives would further strengthen ties between the two nations.