President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, currently on a state visit to Vietnam, visited the renowned Bai Dinh Temple—one of the largest Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia—this afternoon (May 4). During his visit, the President paid homage at the temple and received blessings.
Upon arrival, President Dissanayake was warmly welcomed by the Vietnamese people who gathered at the entrance, holding the national flags of both Sri Lanka and Vietnam in a show of goodwill and friendship.
A large crowd lined both sides of the road as the President toured the temple grounds. They greeted him enthusiastically, waving the national flags of the two nations and extending their well-wishes.
The President first paid respects at the main Buddha shrine within the temple complex, where monks chanted Seth Pirith and invoked blessings upon him.
He then visited the Sri Maha Bodhi located on the temple premises—a sacred tree propagated from the Anuradhapura Sri Maha Bodhi and gifted by Sri Lanka to Bai Dinh Temple in 2023. President Dissanayake also inaugurated the newly constructed protective wall surrounding the Bodhi tree, built under the technical guidance of Sri Lanka’s Central Cultural Fund.
As part of the ceremonial proceedings, the President planted a sal tree within the temple premises and inspected the commemorative plaque marking the occasion.
He also presented a memento to the Chief Incumbent of Bai Dinh Temple, further symbolizing the deep cultural and religious ties between the two nations.
The President was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.
