The High Commission of India on behalf of the Government and people of India, expresses his sincere gratitude to the clergy and people of Sri Lanka for their continuing prayers and well wishes for their brethren in India as a pandemic of epic proportions is being valiantly fought.
High Commissioner Gopal Baglay and officials serving at the High Commission of India are overwhelmed by numerous calls and messages they have received, in addition to the special ceremonies that are being organised in different parts of Sri Lanka, for the health and well-being of people of India.
Prayers and ceremonies for the people of India have been held in different parts of Sri Lanka. The chanting of ‘Ratana Sutta’ was held on several occasions in various temples. This includes the Kapilavastu Buddha Relics Chamber of Waskaduwa Rajaguru Sri Subhuthi Maha Viharaya under the auspices of Most Ven. Dr Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thera on April 29; Bharatha Ashirvada Puja led by Most Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha Nayake Thera at the Chamber of holy Buddha Relics at Sri Bodhiraja Monastery in Embilipitiya on May 1; at different places including the Agra Sravaka Viharaya, Maligakanda under the auspices of the Mahabodhi society on the same day; at Thiriyaya Raja Maha Viharaya in Trincomalee organised by Anuradha Yahampath, Governor of Eastern Province on May 2; Bharatha Ashirvada Puja at Gangaramaya Temple on May 3; at Sri Naga Vihara in Jaffna on May 5, 2021 etc. Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs are jointly organising a 7-day recital from May 6, 2021.
Hindu Religious Forum organised a special prayer at Kandarmadam Nataraj Temple in Jaffna on April 30, 2021. Ved Paarayan and Thirumurai recitals were also held as a part of these special prayers. Another prayer was organised by the Shirdi Sai Center in Colombo on May 2. Another special Puja dedicated to Goddess Dhanvantari for the health of people of India shall be conducted at Mayurpathy Temple in Colombo on May 7. In addition, Mahamritunjaya Yagya will be held at all five Eshwarams in Sri Lanka on May 8.
Prayers were held for India during the Sunday Service at the Anglican Church on May 2. Sri Lankan nationals from various walks of life who received their education in India came together to express their solidarity with India on April 27, 2021. Hashtags, such as ‘thinkingofindia’, ‘PrayForIndia’, are trending on social media in Sri Lanka. There are also public calls for various other unique solidarity gestures by several organisations and business enterprises.
It may be recalled that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had expressed deep empathy and concern in his letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 28.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa conveyed his sentiments and solidarity to Prime Minister Modi during the meeting with High Commissioner Gopal Baglay on April 29.
The High Commission is touched and humbled by these prayers and well wishes, which is a true reflection of the deep people to people connect and the millennia-old bonds between India and Sri Lanka.
