Tibetan spiritual leader gifts Buddha Relic

The spiritual head of the Drupka Order of Tibetan Buddhism, Gyalwang Drupka, has presented a bone relic of the Buddha to President Mahinda Rajapaksa as a gift to Sri Lanka.

“We now leave in your devotional hands one of our most priceless treasures,” the Gyalwang Drupka said while making a request to President Rajapaksa to construct a monument to house the relics.

The presentation ceremony that took place at Temple Trees Saturday evening was the culmination of a month-long Pad Yatra, or a walking pilgrimage, that was organized by the Drupka Order and the Live to Love humanitarian organization together with the Presidential Secretariat, National Youth Services Council (NYSC), Tharunyata Hetak, and the Youth Social Federation.

President Rajapaksa joined the inauguration of the Pad Yatra in Kataragama on March 6. A group of approximately 500, including monks, nuns and others from various countries, journeyed about 500 km from the southern tip of Sri Lanka to the northern tip in Jaffna.

“The first and most impressive experience for us,” the Gyalwang Drupka explained, “is the harmonious unity among different cultures and religions. I believe this would not have been possible without the tireless effort of the President and his capable team of Ministers and administrators,” he said.

The participants of the Pad Yatra had the unique opportunity to see and experience, on foot, a vast area of the country including Sri Pada, Kandy, Matale, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura and Jaffna.

“Having experienced three decades of war and suffering, Sri Lanka needs to be given time to improve and progress,” the Gyalwang Drupka said.

Speaking at the function to thank the Gyalwang Drupka for the gift, Secretary to the President, Lalith Weeratunga, said, “We have the highest regard for the relic from the Enlightened One.”