India thanks Sri Lanka for praying for health and wellbeing of its people

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 being valiantly 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 and ceremonies for the people of India have been held in different parts of Sri Lanka. Chanting of ‘Rathna Sutra’ was held on several occasions in various temples. This includes the Kapilavastu Buddha Relics Chamber of Waskaduwa Rajaguru Sri Subhuthi Maha Viharaya under the auspices of Most Ven. Dr. Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thero on 29 April; Bharatha Ashirvada Puja led by Most Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha Nayake Thero at the Chamber of holy Buddha Relics at Sri Bodhiraja Monastery in Embilipitiya on 1 May; 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 2 May; Bharatha Ashirvada Puja at Gangaramaya Temple on 3 May; at Sri Naga Vihara in Jaffna on 5 May, etc. Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs are jointly organising a seven-day recital from 6 May.

Hindu Religious Forum organised a special prayer at Kandarmadam Nataraj Temple in Jaffna on 30 April. 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 2 May. Another special Puja dedicated to Goddess Dhanvantari for the health of people of India shall be conducted at Mayurpathy Temple in Colombo on 7 May. In addition, Mahamritunjaya Yagya wil lbe held at all five Eshwarams in Sri Lanka on 8 May.

Prayers were held for India during the Sunday service at the Anglican Church on 2 May. Sri Lankan nationals from various walks of life who received their education in India came together to express their solidarity with India on 27 April. 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. 

It may be recalled that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had expressed deep empathy and concern in his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 28 April. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa conveyed his sentiments and solidarity to Prime Minister Modi during the meeting with High Commissioner Gopal Baglay on 29 April.

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”.