Sri Lanka is the closest neighbour of India. This is why Sri Lanka and India are very close in religious, cultural, economic and diplomatic terms. This friendly relationship has existed since ancient times.
In this context, the Rajesh Singh Dayal Foundation, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, recently held a series of events to mark the Indo-Lanka Friendship Day on August 1, with Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena as the Chief Guest. The event was held at the Kunwar’s Global School, a leading educational institution run by the Rajesh Singh Dayal Foundation in Lucknow. The aim of this program was to strengthen the Indo-Lanka friendship in the long run. The event attracted distinguished invitees from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. Many dignitaries, educators and scholars participated and new avenues of international cooperation and cultural exchange were opened.
The organisers emphasised the importance of developing cultural relations between India and Sri Lanka at this multi-faceted event. Much attention was paid to the importance of Educational Exchanges.
Apart from the Minister, speeches were delivered on this occasion by Dr. Sagarika Bhatia, Lcurve Education Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Prem Kumari Budatoki, Founding President of ECEP Nepal Foundation and Founder Principal Alphabet Preschool Director of Nepal, M.D. Hachnain and the founder Principal, EBAC Public School-EPS, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka’s education sector was represented by Sabaragamuwa Province Chief Secretary and several principals, teachers and students from the Sabaragamuwa Province. They had been invited to the event by Kunwar’s Global School, Lucknow. The students from both countries presented several cultural items. The parental coach of Colombo ECCE Dr. Therese Ashanti Lakmali Seneviratne and Ratnapura Dharmapala Vidyalaya Principal P.P.P. Kalubowila were also present. Their visit to India was fully funded by the Rajesh Singh Dayal Foundation.
One of the main highlights of this event was a massive free medical camp organised by the Rajesh Singh Dayal Foundation at the same venue. This too was opened by Minister Dr. Gunawardena.
Thousands of residents of cities and villages including Lucknow, Rajpur, Bhugatpur, Sirsia Pawar and Bhawani Chapar attended this medical camp.
Specialist consultants from the Chandan Hospital, a famous hospital in Lucknow City were in attendance. Minister Dr. Gunawardena was also the Chief Guest at another event in Lucknow where dry food rations were distributed among the needy in the area.
Pilgrims
The Rajesh Singh Dayal Foundation also facilitated a pilgrimage to Sarnath, Bodhi Gaya and several other sacred sites for the Sri Lankan delegation led by the Minister. It was also pointed out to the delegation that a new international airport was opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kushinagar, UP, for the benefit of overseas pilgrims. This will soon have flights from many neighbouring nations. Another new international airport will be commissioned across the border in Lumbini, Nepal for the convenience of pilgrims.
Bhikkhus of the Maha Bodhi Society of India also appealed to the Minister to provide solutions to the problems faced by the Anagarika Dharmapala Museum and to resolve any impact on the Mulaghanda Vihara as a result of the trading city being built close to the holy site venerated by thousands of people from across the world daily.
The Minister promised to act swiftly on these matters, in consultation with President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Indian Premier Modi, along with the officials of the diplomatic missions in both countries. This was a significant outcome of the Minister’s India visit. It helped to strengthen Indo-Lanka ties which received a further boost with President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s recent official visit to New Delhi to meet top Indian leaders.