News
Prayers for our neighbour
The High Commission of India, on behalf of the Government and people of India, expressed its sincere gratitude to the clergy and people of Sri Lanka for their continuing prayers and well wishes for their brethren in India as a pandemic of epic proportions is fought.
High Commissioner and officials serving at the High Commission of India are overwhelmed by numerous calls and messages they have received, in addition to the special ceremonies that are being organised in different parts of Sri Lanka, for the health and well-being of people of India.
Prayers for the people of India have been held in different parts of Sri Lanka. Chanting of the ‘Rathna Sutra’ was done at various temples. This includes the Kapilavastu Buddha Relics Chamber of Waskaduwa Rajaguru Sri Subhuthi Maha Viharaya under the auspices of Ven Dr Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thero on April 29; Bharatha Ashirvada Puja led by Ven Dr Omalpe Sobhitha Nayake Thero at the Chamber of Holy Buddha Relics at Sri Bodhiraja Monastery in Embilipitiya on May 1; at different places including the Agra Sravaka Viharaya, Maligakanda under the auspices of the Mahabodhi society on the same day; at Thiriyaya Raja Maha Viharaya in Trincomalee organised by Anuradha Yahampath, Governor of Eastern Province on May 2; Bharatha Ashirvada Puja at Gangaramaya Temple on May 3; at Sri Naga Vihara in Jaffna on May 5, etc. Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs are jointly organising a 7-day recital from May 6.
The Hindu Religious Forum organised a special prayer at Kandarmadam Nataraj Temple in Jaffna on April 30. Ved Paarayan and Thirumurai recitals were also held as a part of these special prayers. Another prayer was organised by the Shirdi Sai Centre in Colombo on May 2. Another special Puja dedicated to Goddess Dhanvantari for the health of the people of India shall be conducted at Mayurpathy Temple in Colombo on May 7. In addition, Mahamritunjaya Yagya wil lbe held at all five Eshwarams in Sri Lanka on May 8.
Prayers were held for India during the Sunday service at the Anglican Church on May 2. Sri Lankans from various walks of life who received their education in India came together to express their solidarity with India on April 27. Hashtags, such as ‘thinkingofindia’, ‘PrayForIndia’, are trending on social media in Sri Lanka. There are also public calls for various other unique solidarity gestures by several organisations and business enterprises.
The High Commission said it was touched and humbled by these prayers and well wishes, which it termed a “true reflection of the deep people-to-people connect and the millennia-old bonds between India and Sri Lanka”.