2600th Sambuddhatva Jayanthi: 16 ft idol of Buddha from India

India has commissioned a 16 feet high idol of Buddha in the Sarnath style from the Gupta Period, which is proposed to be installed at the entrance of the International Buddhist Museum Complex at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy commemorating the 2600th year of the attainment of enlightenment by Lord Buddha (Sambuddhatva Jayanthi).

An agreement to this effect has been signed between the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India and Icons India for the preparation of the idol, the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka said in a press release.

Other activities forming part of the joint commemoration of the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi include the establishment of an Indian Gallery at the International Buddhist Museum and the organisation of an International Buddhist Conference.

Following is the press release :

Recognising that their shared cultural and civilisational links provided the bedrock of bilateral relations, India and Sri Lanka agreed in the Joint Declaration issued during the State Visit of the President of Sri Lanka to India in June 2010 that the 2600th year of the attainment of enlightenment by Lord Buddha (Sambuddhatva Jayanthi) would be commemorated through joint activities by the two countries.