Lanka to support Nepal rebuild Rato Machhindranath Temple

Sri Lankan Ambassador to Nepal, WS Perera, yesterday said Sri Lanka would help Nepal rebuild the Rato Machhindranath Temple in Bungamati and the Ananda Kuti Vihar in Swayambhu, The Himalayan Times reported. The two significant Buddhist heritage sites of Kathmandu Valley were destroyed in the 2015 April earthquake.

In a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bimalendra Nidhi at the Ministry of Home Affairs today, the envoy showed her concerns over the reconstruction of the heritage sites, according to a statement issued by Nidhi’s secretariat.

Meanwhile, Perera informed Nidhi that Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena would visit Nepal soon to mark the 60th anniversary of commencement of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Meanwhile, DPM Nidhi asked the Ambassador to promote Lumbini, the birth place of Gautam Buddha, in Sri Lanka so that more tourists would visit the holy site. It would strengthen the people-to-people relation between two neighbours, he justified.

Acknowledging the Sri Lankan support for Nepal reconstruction efforts, Nidhi said Nepal expected cooperation with Sri Lanka in developmental activities as well.