Buddhists groups have led faith communities across Sri Lanka in a united show of solidarity with China as it races to stem the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus, now officially named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization, that has seen entire cities locked down as overstretched medical personnel fight to contain the outbreak.

On a mountainside near the ancient city of Kandy, Buddhists gathered at the Nelligala International Buddhist Center earlier this month to perform a pirith ceremony, the traditional practice of reciting scriptures as a protection against misfortune or peril.* The practitioners were invited by the Sri Lanka-China Buddhist Friendship Association (SLCBFA) to invoke blessings for the government and people of China.

“China at the moment needs support, that is why we decided to come here to invoke the blessings of Lord Buddha to give a speedy recovery to people affected by the novel coronavirus in China and the whole world,” said SLCBFA vice-president Ajith Dharmawardena. “I have confidence that the Chinese government and people will overcome this problem.” (XinhuaNews)

The ceremony was attended by some 1,000 people, including local residents and Chinese nationals living in Sri Lanka.

On the same day, a similar ceremony was organized by the Sri Lanka-China Journalist Forum (SLCJF) at the 19th-century Buddhist temple Gangaramaya, in Sri Lanka’s commercial capital Colombo.