Baby tusker gifted to Bellanwila temple

A baby tusker was gifted to the Bellanwila Rajamahavihara by the Myanmar government.

External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris was present at the handing over ceremony at the temple on Tuesday.

Venerable Dr. Bellanwila Wimalaratana Thera, presiding over the ceremony, explained the importance of the tusker for conducting the annual perahera and for other formal events of the historic temple.

He described the efforts to find a tusker after the death of the temple tusker.Prof. Peiris referred to the illustrious history of the temple and its connection with the Sacred Bodhi Tree in Anuradhapura.

He traced the relations between Sri Lanka and Myanmar, highlighting the support rendered by each country to the other over the centuries in the cause of strengthening the Buddha Sasana and especially in maintaining the Upasampada tradition.

The minister referred to the initiatives of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in making this donation possible and the sustained efforts to achieve this result. He expressed warm appreciation for the generosity and support of the Myanmar government.

Myanmar Ambassador to Sri Lanka U. Myo Lwin expressed the pleasure of his government in being able to make this donation as a special gesture. He made the presentation in the presence of a larger and distinguished audience which included the envoys of several countries.