Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Mahishini Colonne, on Sunday described the exposition of the sacred Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha in Colombo as a “rare blessing” for the country, expressing gratitude to the Government of India for making the historic event possible.
“A rare blessing for Sri Lanka. The sacred Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha are on exposition at Gangaramaya Temple — the first-ever international exposition of these relics. Grateful to the Government of India and all those who made this possible,” Colonne said in a post on X.
Her remarks followed an announcement by the High Commission of India in Colombo on Saturday, stating that the relics would travel to Sri Lanka following a declaration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Pursuant to PM @narendramodi’s announcement, the Holy Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha are travelling to Sri Lanka for their first-ever international exposition,” the Indian High Commission tweeted.
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The relics are scheduled to be in Sri Lanka from February 4 to February 11, 2026, with public veneration beginning February 5 at Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo. The Indian High Commission described the event as a rare and historic spiritual moment, inviting devotees to participate in the public veneration.
These relics hold special significance as they feature Buddhist artefacts and sculptures from the Western Satraps period. Their display in Sri Lanka marks the country’s first-ever international exposition, highlighting their cultural and religious importance.
Bilateral cultural cooperation between India and Sri Lanka has a long history. Initiatives include the establishment of the Indian Gallery at the International Buddhist Museum in Kandy, restoration of the Thirukeeteswaram Temple in Mannar, and the exposition of sacred Kapilavastu Relics in Sri Lanka in 2012 to commemorate the 2,600th year of Lord Buddha’s enlightenment (Sambuddhatva Jayanthi).
In October 2021, the inaugural Colombo-Kushinagar flight operated on the auspicious Vap Poya Day, transporting sacred Kapilavastu Buddha relics from Rajaguru Sri Subhuthi Maha Vihara of Waskaduwa to India, where they were displayed in several cities including Kushinagar and Sarnath.
India has also contributed to Sri Lanka’s cultural and educational landscape. A statue of Lord Buddha was presented to Dharmayathanaya Temple, the Pali grammar book Namamala and the Sinhala translation of the Jataka Tales were published, and the Centre for Contemporary Indian Studies (CCIS) was established at Colombo University. Additionally, long-term ICCR chairs for Hindi have been set up at Kelaniya and Sabaragamuwa Universities.
