Foreign Secretary of Pakistan
Ms. Tehmina Janjua, during her visit to Sri Lanka for 5th Round of Political Consultations, visited the historic Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo.
She was accompanied by the Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan Dr. Sarfraz Ahmed Khan Sipra and other officials.
Chief Incumbent of the Gangaramaya Temple Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Thera warmly welcomed the Foreign Secretary and briefed her about the Temple and several social services under the patronage of the Temple.
Janjua said Pakistan prides itself to be the motherland of Buddhism and Gandhara. She added that the relationship between the two peoples and cultures exists from time immemorial taking a firm shape through 2,500 years of ties established during the golden eras of Gandhara and the rise of Buddhism.
She said that Pakistan, despite being a predominantly Muslim country has been celebrating Vesak at Taxila since 2016 as an annual festival that shows Pakistan’s commitment and harmony towards other religions. Pakistan has been the proud cosponsor of the UN Resolution of 1999 for declaring Vesak as one of UN annual days.
Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Thera thanked the Government of Pakistan for providing many Sacred Relics to the Gangaramaya Temple and also paid gratitude to the Government of Pakistan for preserving the Buddhist Monasteries and sacred sites in Pakistan.