Sri lankan President Maithripala Sirisena unveiled a statue of Dhammapathik Anagarika Dharmapala at Sanchi on Saturday. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was also present on the occasion. The statue is installed on the premises of Mahabodhi Society of Sri lanka. Speaking on the occasion Sirisena referred to the age old ties between India and Sri lanka and said that the relations would be further cemented.
Sirisena said that he feel blessed to visit Sanchi, the renowned Buddhist pilgrimage centre. He thanked BJP Spokesperson Ram Madhav for this. He expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister Chouhan for establishing Sanchi University of Buddhist and Induc Studies.
Welcoming the Sri lankan President, the Chief Minister said that a friendship park will be developed near Sanchi University. Chouhan said that a grand temple dedicated to Sitaji would be built at the site where she had undergone Angi Pariksha in Sri lanka. Expenditure on this would be borne by Madhya Pradesh government. Sri lanka government has agreed to provide land for the temple, he added.
On reaching Sanchi from Ninaura the Sri lankan President Sirisena and Speaker of Sri lankan Parliament Karunaratna Jayasurya, Chief Minister Chouhan visited Chaityagiri temple and performed worship of holy relics of lord Buddha's disciples Mahamoggalayan and Sariputta. later they visited Sanchi Stupa.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included Forest Minister Gaurishankar Shejwar, Maharashtra Minister for Social Justice Rajkumar Sudama, High Commissioners of Sri lanka and India and members of delegation that accompanied Sirisena. Senior officers and followers of Bduddhism were also present in large number.