China-Lanka MoU to develop Buddhist activities

China will enter into a memorandum of understanding with Sri Lanka to develop and extend activities related to Buddhism. A wide ranging plan will be drawn up under this agreement to develop Buddhist temples and Dagobas in Sri Lanka.

An agreement was reached in this connection when visiting Chinese Religious Affairs Deputy Minister Zhang Lebin called on Prime Minister D M Jayaratne at Visumpaya and held wide ranging discussions yesterday morning. Detailed discussions were made during this meeting regarding relations between the two countries in the field of religion.

The Chinese Deputy Minister Zhang Lebin emphasized that China is Keen on strengthening Buddhist ties between the two countries. He said China practiced Mahayana Buddhism, but its locals automatically visited Sri Lanka to learn pure Theravada Buddhist principles practiced by the country.

Lebin said longstanding religious, social and economic ties between the two countries had forged ahead in recent times. The intention of the Chinese Government was to continue these relations and further strengthen them in the future. During the discussions Prime Minister D M Jayaratne thanked China for its positive vision about Sri Lanka and expressed his happiness about it. The friendly support given by China to Sri Lanka from the past is highly appreciated by Sri Lanka, he said.