The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Vietnam, in close coordination with the Embassy of Vietnam in Colombo, Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, was gifted a sacred Sapling of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura to be planted at the Bai Dinh Pagoda (Temple) in Vietnam.
The Bai Dinh Pagoda is one of the most sacred and revered temples in Viet Nam spreading over 700 hectares and possesses the largest gold plated statue of Buddha in Asia as well as the tallest Buddha relics tower in Asia. Most Venerable Pallegama Hemerathana Thero, Chief Monk of North Central Province, handed over the aforementioned Bodhi Tree Sapling of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi to the Chief Abbot of Bai Dinh Pagoda Most Venerable Thich Minh Quang and Chairman of Bai Dinh Pagoda Nguyen Van Truong. The Most Venerable Eeethalawatunawawe Ganathilaka, the Chief Incumbent of Ruwanwelisaya Stupa also participated at the event. Nearly 40 Buddhist Monks and Officials including the Chief Abbot of Bai Dinh Pagoda from Viet Nam visited Anuradhapura to receive the sacred Bodhi Tree Sapling. Once the sacred Bo Tree Sapling was ceremoniously handed over, the 40 Monks and Officials from Bai Dinh along with the Chief Monk of North Central Province and the Chief Incumbent of Ruwanwelisaya Stupa, along with Sri Lankan Buddhist Monks, visited Bai Dinh Pagoda for the sacred ceremony of planting the Sapling at the premises of Bai Dinh Pagoda.
In Sri Lanka, Ambassador of Viet Nam to Colombo Ho Thi Thanh Truc was also present at the handing over ceremony in Anuradhapura. During the four-day stay in Sri Lanka, the delegation from Bai Dinh Pagoda visited Temple of Tooth Relic in Kandy, Asgiriya Temple and several other locations of significance. The Chairman of Bai Dinh Pagoda gifted USD 20,000 to Lady Ridgeway Children Hospital as a symbolic gesture of their visit.
State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka Tharaka Balasooriya met with the Vietnamese delegation in Colombo and expressed his sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Buddhist delegation from Bai Dinh Pagoda. This initiative would further deepen and elevate the religious bilateral relations in the context of Theravada and Mahayana Buddhist traditions and ethos.
Secretary of Ministry of Buddhasasana Somarathna Vidanapathirana and former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Vietnam Prasanna Gamage also participated at the events and ceremonies organized by the embassy of Viet Nam in Colombo. Former Ambassador Prasanna Gamage, was instrumental in initiating the aforementioned most sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Sapling to be planted at Bai Dinh Pagoda.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Viet Nam, Prof A. Saj U. Mendis and Minister Counsellor, Mr Mahesh Premathalake, and other Officials of the Embassy participated along with a large number of Sri Lankan expatriate community in Viet Nam as well as well over 5000 Budhhist devotees in Viet Nam participated at the most sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Sapling planting ceremony.
It is strongly anticipated since many Vietnamese devotees visit the Bai Dinh Pagoda, the most sacred Sapling of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi which is planted at the Bai Dinh Temple, would encourage and would be an impetus for Vietnamese devotees to visit Sri Lanka as they know that Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Tree in Buddha Gaya in India.
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