Foreign missions to receive Buddha statues

Nadira Gunatilleke

Implementing one of the concepts of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, 57 Buddha statues will be taken in a procession to Temple Trees from Independence Square on June 9 to be handed over to the President and thereafter to Sri Lankan missions abroad, Foreign Employment and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera said.

Addressing a press briefing at Olympic House, Colombo 7 yesterday, Minister Perera said that according to a concept of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Buddha statues will be handed over to Sri Lankan foreign missions abroad to mark the 2600th Shri Sambuddhathva Jayanthi. The Buddha statues are to be taken in a procession from Matara to Independence Square on June 8.

Minister Perera said that people in many countries worship Buddha statues. Sri Lankan Buddha statues have its own characteristics. The Buddha statues to be handed over to Sri Lankan embassies have similarities to Samadhi Buddha statue. They are white in colour.

These Buddha statues will help promote Theravada Buddhism in the world and also promote the characteristics of Sri Lankan Buddha statues. Sri Lankans living abroad will get the opportunity to worship these Buddha statues.