Expatriates in Norway pledge to fight misconception about Sri Lanka in Europe

Sri Lankans expatriates in Norway have pledged to extend their support to the mega development drive initiated by the government and also to eradicate the misconceptions about Sri Lanka across Europe.

They gave their undertaking to the Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva who is currently visiting Norway on an official tour, last 18th October.

At present, about 12,000 Sri Lankans are living in Norway. At a religious ceremony held at the Oslo Maha Viharaya, Ven, Marathugoda Manirathana There said: Norwegians are a well disciplined nation and a better understanding between Norwegians and Sri Lankans could be built through Buddhism.

The Thera stressed that Sri Lankan Buddhist monks could play a pivotal role to end false propaganda against Sri Lanka.

Minister de Silva said: Sri Lankan embassies should look into the needs of the Buddhist temples and monks residing in foreign countries, on behalf of the Sri Lankan government. The ceremony was also attended by Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa. Ata Pirikara was offered to Buddhist monks by the ministers. Sri Lankan ambassador in Norway Rodney Perera Chief of Embassy Staff C V Rajapaksa and First Secretary Shani Karunaratne also graced the occasion.