Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday underscored the deep civilisational and spiritual ties between India and Sri Lanka as he thanked Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for inaugurating the exposition of the sacred Devnimori relics of Lord Buddha in Colombo.
The first-ever international exposition of the Devnimori relics — discovered at the Devnimori archaeological site in Gujarat’s Aravalli district — is being held at the Gangaramaya Temple from February 4 to 11. The relics are open for public veneration from February 5 onward.
The exposition was inaugurated on Wednesday by President Dissanayake in the presence of Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and Chief Incumbent Ven. Kirinde Assaji Thero at the Gangaramaya Temple.
Welcoming the relics, President Dissanayake said in a post on X that he deeply appreciated Prime Minister Modi and the Government of India for enabling the sacred exposition in Sri Lanka and fulfilling their commitment. He described the occasion as a significant spiritual event for devotees and shared photographs from the inauguration ceremony.
Responding to the message, Prime Minister Modi expressed gratitude to the Sri Lankan President for inaugurating the exposition and recalled that the decision to bring the relics to Sri Lanka was taken during his State Visit to the island nation in April 2025. He said the exposition gives people an opportunity to pay their respects and reflects the enduring spiritual connection between the two countries. The Prime Minister also noted that Lord Buddha’s message of compassion, peace and harmony continues to guide humanity.
The Indian High Commission in Colombo said the exposition reflects the deep-rooted spiritual and civilisational links between India and Sri Lanka. It added that the arrival of the relics on February 4 — coinciding with Sri Lanka’s 78th Independence Day — gave special significance to the event.
This marks the first public veneration of the Devnimori relics outside India. Previously, India organised expositions of the Kapilavastu relics in Sri Lanka in 2012 and the Sarnath relics in 2018.
The Devnimori relics are originally enshrined at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in Vadodara and were transported to Sri Lanka aboard a special Indian Air Force aircraft with full state honours.
