PIRITH CEREMONY TO COMMEMORATE 65^th ANNIVERSARY OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN SRI LANKA AND CHINA

Sri Lanka China Buddhist Friendship Association and the Buddhist Association of China with Ven.Dr. Kallanchiye Rathnasiri thero, the Chief Incumbent of the historical Abhayagiri Viharaya will conduct a Buddhist religious program to chant Seth Pirith at the Abhayagiriya Temple at Anuradhapura and Sri Lanka Vidyalaya Maradana with collaboration of historical Buddhist temples in China to mark 65^th Anniversary of Sri Lanka -China Diplomatic relations, on 26^th February 2021.

Buddhist Association of China has made arrangements for Ven.theros led by Most Ven Chang Zang thero of the Ling Guan Temple in Beijing and Most Ven Ming Sheng Thero of the Putuao Temple in Zhuhai, Guangdong to join online pirith chanting program to commemorate 65^th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between our two countries. At a time world is facing an unprecedented pandemic, this program to chant  Seth Pirith will invoke blessings to all human beings to end the suffering from COVID-19 pandemic.

Ven.Fa-Xian lived and studied Buddhism in the 4^th Century at the historical Abhayagiriya Temple. In 429 CE Bhikkuni Dewasara led a delegation to China with a sapling of Bo Tree and established the Bhikkuni order in China. Buddhist relations between Sri Lanka and China predated, the present-day Diplomatic relations were the strong pillars of the friendship between two countries.

The Ambassador of China in Sri Lanka H.E. Qi Zhenhong will join the program at Abhayagiri Temple at Anuradhapura and H.E. Dr Palitha Kohona, Sri Lanka Ambassador in China will join at the same time from Ling Guan Temple in Beijing, a historical temple, where the Buddha’s Tooth Relic is kept in China. The Minister of Regional Cooperation Hon.Tharaka Balasuriya will join this program from Abhayagiriya Temple in Anuradhapura.