During the meeting, Governor Dr. Devvrat stated that the sacred relic of Sri Sarvagna Thero, which had been enshrined in Gujarat, was brought to Sri Lanka under the guidance of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He noted that this followed a request made by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during his official visit to India.
Dr. Devvrat further emphasized that this marks the first time in Gujarat’s history that sacred relics of Lord Buddha have been taken to a foreign country. He described the selection of Sri Lanka as a historic milestone that reflects the deep mutual respect and strong ties between the two nations.
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath expressed his gratitude to the Gujarat government for its contribution in organizing the historic relic pilgrimage. He highlighted that the initiative provides an important opportunity to further strengthen the long-standing religious and cultural relations between Sri Lanka and Gujarat.
The discussion also focused on enhancing economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and Gujarat, one of India’s leading industrial hubs. Both sides reached positive agreements on expanding existing industrial collaboration with major Gujarat-based companies such as Amul and Tata, strengthening cultural exchange programmes between the Buddhist communities of both countries, and exploring new promotional opportunities in the tourism sector.
