The United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations were held this year in Wuxi, China, bringing together Buddhist leaders, scholars, diplomats, and representatives from many countries to mark one of the most sacred events in the Buddhist calendar. Sri Lanka was represented at this significant international Buddhist gathering by Mr. Chandra Nimal Wakishta, President of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress, and Dr. Palitha Kohona, former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to China and a distinguished Sri Lankan diplomat with long-standing experience in international affairs. Their participation carried special significance, as Sri Lanka remains one of the world’s foremost Theravada Buddhist nations and has historically played a leading role in preserving, promoting, and sharing Buddhist values with the international community. Following the conclusion of the Vesak celebrations in Wuxi, Dr. Palitha Kohona undertook a private visit to the historic White Horse Temple in Luo Yang, China. The visit was aimed at discussing the future progress of the proposed Sinhala Buddhist -style Buddhist temple to be constructed on land made available to Sri Lanka by the Luo Yang authorities. On arrival at the White Horse Temple, Dr. Kohona was received with warmth and respect by senior officials responsible for Buddhist affairs in the Henan Provincial Government and the Luo Yang administration. Among those present was Mr. Bai Zhubin, representing the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Luo Yang Committee. A representative of the Chief Monk of the temple also attended the discussions, as the Chief Monk was away in Beijing at the time. The White Horse Temple, regarded as one of the most historic Buddhist temples in China, holds a deeply symbolic place in the spread of Buddhism in the region. During Dr. Kohona’s visit, the temple was crowded with devotees, some of whom were dressed in traditional period costumes, reflecting a renewed public interest in Buddhist heritage and culture in China. The temple’s image house contains three large Buddha statues as well as statues of the Eighteen Arahats. Of particular significance is the belief that the first Arahat statue represents a Sinhala Arahat, underscoring the ancient spiritual and cultural links between Sri Lanka and China. Dr. Kohona was later taken by electric vehicle to inspect the site allocated to Sri Lanka for the construction of the Sinhala-style Buddhist temple. The land is currently heavily overgrown, and the only visible marker identifying the site is a small black commemorative plaque laid several years ago by former Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Hon. Karu Jayasuriya. During the discussions, the Henan and Luo Yang authorities expressed strong interest in seeing the project revived and advanced. They suggested that the next step should be for the Sri Lankan authorities to formally raise the matter with the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing. The Chinese officials noted that the project had already featured in bilateral discussions between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake last year. They observed that a formal approach by the Sri Lankan side through diplomatic channels would make it easier for the Chinese central authorities to refer the matter to the relevant provincial and municipal authorities for the necessary clearances and implementation. The representatives of the White Horse Temple also indicated their willingness to extend support to the project. During the visit, Dr. Kohona proposed that the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress (ACBC) could take the lead in completing the construction of the Sri Lankan style Theravada Buddhist temple. Such leadership would provide the project with a strong institutional foundation representing the wider Buddhist community of Sri Lanka. The Chinese authorities further observed that the construction of this Buddhist temple in Luo Yang would encourage Buddhist and cultural tourism from Sri Lanka to China, while also helping to promote reciprocal tourism from China to Sri Lanka. They highlighted that such a project would strengthen people-to-people relations, cultural understanding, and goodwill between the two countries. In connection with this year’s United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations, the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress (ACBC) participated from Sri Lanka, representing the country’s longstanding Buddhist heritage and its contribution to the global Buddhist community. The participation of the Sri Lankan delegation was coordinated by the China–Sri Lanka Friendship Association, with special facilitation and guidance extended by the Honorable President of the China–Sri Lanka Friendship Association. The occasion was further distinguished by the participation of Hon. Gamagegedara Dissanayake, Deputy Minister of Buddha Sasana and Cultural Affairs, who represented the Government of Sri Lanka. His presence added official significance to Sri Lanka’s participation and reflected the importance attached by Sri Lanka to Buddhist diplomacy, cultural cooperation, and friendship between the two nations. This meaningful participation at the United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations provided an important platform to further strengthen religious, cultural, and people-to-people relations between Sri Lanka and China. It also created a valuable opportunity to discuss the revival and completion of the proposed Sri Lankan-style Theravada Buddhist temple at the historic White Horse Temple in Luo Yang, a project expected to become a lasting symbol of the ancient Buddhist relationship between the two countries.
