Direct Flight from Bhopal to Colombo (Sri Lanka) will be started. Work to set up World Boddh Museum and Educational Institution in Sanchi will be started soon. These decisions were taken in a meeting held between the Minister for Adhytam of MP PC Sharma and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunvardhne of Sri Lanka in Colombo. The International President of Maha Bodhi Society Bhikkhu Vangal Uptiss Nayak Thero and Additional Secretary of Madhya Pradesh Manoj Shrivastava were present at the meeting.

In a meeting, Foreign Minister Gunvardhne said that the initiative of the Government of India to start flight from Bhopal to Colombo is welcoming. He further stated that the Sri Lanka government is ready to start direct flight from Colombo to Bhopal. Gunvardhne said that lakhs of people from Sri Lanka visit Bhopal and Sanchi. The direct air connectivity between Bhopal and Colombo will benefit people in large number.

An elaborate discussion on setting up of World Boddh Museum and Educational Institution, Bhikshu (Monk) training and Buddhist Chanting Centre took place in the meeting. A project of Boddh Museum and Educational Institution was presented during the meeting. Boddh philosophy, Boddh Science, Boddh Art and Culture, Boddh festivals along with the religious places of Boddh religion situated in various countries of the World, Boddh traditions, life style and art have been included in the project.

Minister Sharma informed that approval for the financial support for the project has been granted by the Foreign Minister Gunvardhne of Sri Lanka.

Besides, Sharma informed that a series of conducting regular cultural programmes based on public welfare, folk art and culture of Sri Lanka in India and vice versa will also be started. The Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka said that a team will be sent to Madhya Pradesh by the Sri Lankan Government to hold discussion on the proposal of starting cultural programmes.

Sharma extended best wishes to the International President of Maha Bodhi Society Bhikkhu Vangal Uptiss Nayak Thero on his 70th birthday. Uptiss has had constant contact with India especially Sanchi. Minister Sharma informed that the Maha Bodhi Society is working in India much before the Independence. He congratulated the President of the society on the 40th Foundation Day on Sunday.