When Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the Kushinagar international airport on Wednesday, he will be accompanied by a 125-strong delegation of Sri Lankan ministers and Buddhist monks.
The event will see a powerful infusion of soft-power in ties between the two South Asian nations that share a two-millennia civilisational bonding through Buddhism.
Sri Lankan newspaper Daily Mirror says that the Sri Lankan delegation is being led by Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa–son of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa–with 100 Buddhist monks. Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and State Minister DV Chanaka are likely to join the delegation.
The event is likely to see participation of envoys from many countries with a Buddhism connect. The Sri Lankan High Commission in New Delhi will also instal two historical photographs as a gift from the people of Sri Lanka to India. The photographs carry the blessings of the Sri Lankan Maha Sangha and depict the son and daughter of Indian king Ashoka.
Kushinagar is one of the main Buddhist pilgrim centres where Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana. The event will also go a long way in establishing eastern Uttar Pradesh as a tourist centre for religious tourism for both domestic as well as foreign tourists.
Colombo is reciprocating by developing the Ramayan tourist circuit in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan High Commissioner Milinda Marogoda is bringing a stone from 'Sita Eliya' in Sri Lanka to be used during the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya. 'Sita Eliya' is believed to be the place known as Ashok Vatika in the Indian epic Ramayan.
Colombo is making efforts to come out of the Chinese shadow by building ties with India in the spheres of defence, travel and tourism as well as trade and commerce. Experts say better ties between the two neighbours will lead to Sri Lanka moving away from Beijing's influence which has been corroding its financial sovereignty through debt diplomacy.
Only last week Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane had visited the island nation to strengthen relations with the Sri Lankan army. Before that Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had visited Sri Lanka to take stock of development projects.
