Religion brings MP,Sri Lanka together

Sri Lanka and Madhya Pradesh have found common ground in religion.

Sri Lanka and Madhya Pradesh have found common ground in religion. More precisely,each others predominant religion.

Both are trying to develop religion tourism and hope to attract tourists from each others territory because Sri Lanka has sites associated with Ramayana,and MP is home to Buddhisms revered sites like Sanchi. Incidentally,MP is itself tracing Rampath,a route Lord Rama took through the central Indian state on his way to exile.

Though the state has a long way to go before it manages to link the sites on Rampath,Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was happy to visit the small island nation to perform bhoomi poojan of a new Sita Mata temple at a site where Sita is believed to have withstood Agni Pariksha (trial by fire). He announced that the state will spend Rs one crore on the temple.

Sri Lanka on its part is doing its best to market more than 50 sites associated with Ramayana and hopes to attract Indian tourists by offering them package tours.

Also,for months MP and Sri Lanka have engaged in a process to establish a Buddhist University near Sanchi,less than 50 km from Bhopal. The institution,a venture between MP,Sri Lanka and Sri Lankas Mahabodhi Society (SLMS),will take shape over 65 acre land near Sanchi. MP will provide Rs one crore for the institution at the world heritage site.

A steering committee with representation from Sri Lanka,India,MP and SLMS will soon be formed to accelerate the pace of establishing the university in Raisen district.

The Sri Lankan government has also given its consent to Chouhans proposal to start a flight between Colombo and Bhopal. The present flight between Colombo and Bodhgaya in Bihar will be extended to the MP capital once Bhopals Raja Bhoj Airport is upgraded to international status,possibly by the year-end.

Story continues below this ad

The CM said that Sri Lanka had also agreed to celebrate Madhya Pradesh Week every year,during which representatives from MP will visit Sri Lanka and promote mutual relations in the spheres of culture,history,religion and trade. The state has promised to return the favour by holding a Sri Lanka Week at Sanchi.

Chouhan visited Sri Lanka on invitation by a delegation from that country last November. Then Sri Lankas Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wicraknayake had visited Sanchi to dedicate Vandana Niketan Bhavan,a facility for Buddhist tourists.

MP has announced that it will extend all possible assistance to raise to international level the annual Buddhist fair organised in Sanchi.