High Commission of Sri Lanka in India

Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda met with the State Minister of External Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi yesterday (7) and briefed her on the activities lined up for the celebration of the 75 th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and India.

The meeting was held at the Minister’s office at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in New Delhi.

During the meeting, High Commissioner Moragoda briefed her on the activities the High Commission is planning to carry out this year to celebrate this important anniversary, in particular the exhibition titled ‘It is Essential to be There’ that features the works of Sri Lanka’s premier architect, the late Geoffrey Bawa. The High Commission is planning to hold this Exhibition at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in New Delhi next month.

High Commissioner Moragoda thanked Minister Lekhi for making available theNGMA, which comes under her charge as the Minister of State of Culture, to hold theExhibition. Minister Meenakshi Lekhi pledged all possible support to make theExhibition a success.

The High Commission has planned a series of activities to celebrate the 75 thanniversary of Sri Lanka-India diplomatic relations. As the first of these activities, itreleased the Sinhala translation of renowned Indian author Jairam Ramesh's book"The Light of Asia; the poem that defined the Buddha", at the Independence Day flaghoisting ceremony held at the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi on 04 February.

The meeting between the visiting Foreign Minister of New Zealand and the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India was held today at the High Commission of New Zealand in New Delhi.

The discussion focussed on conceptual contours for a cooperation model for smaller countries in the Indian Ocean region. Further, collaboration in the dairy sector was discussed, including possible trilateral arrangements involving Indian investors. Foreign Minister Mahuta and High Commissioner Moragoda also discussed as to how New Zealand’s experience in public financial management and public sector reform could be shared with Sri Lanka. High Commissioner of New Zealand to Sri Lanka Michael Appleton, senior officials of the New Zealand Foreign Ministry and Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in New Delhi Niluka Kadurugamuwa also attended these discussions. 

Minister Nanaia Mahuta is a tribal member of Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto andNgāti Manu and her parliamentary experience has enabled her to contribute to thecollective aspirations of Māori and all New Zealanders. In 2020, she became the firstwoman to hold the Foreign Affairs portfolio in New Zealand. Previously, she had alsobeen Minister of Local Government, and Associate Minister for Māori Development.

The Sinhala translation of renowned Indian author Jairam Ramesh's book "The Light of Asia; the poem that defined the Buddha", Budusiritha Lowata Genagiya Maha Kavyaya; Asiyawe Alokaya, published to coincide with the 75th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence and the 75th anniversary of Sri Lanka- India diplomatic relations was presented to its author and the Maha Sangha at the Independence Day flag hoisting ceremony held at the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi today (4). 

The Sinhala translation, published by the Pathfinder Foundation, was presented to the author of the original work, Rajya Sabha MP and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh and the Maha Sangha led by the General Secretary of the Mahabodhi Society of India Venerable Pelawatte Seewalee Nayaka Thero, by the translator Niluka Kadurugamuwa. 

"The Light of Asia; the poem that defined the Buddha" is a work of deep scholarship based on extensive research and serves as a biography of both the epic poem The Light of Asia and its author Sir Edwin Arnold. The book describes how the poem The Light of Asia, which is based on the life of the Buddha, captivated and inspired many iconic personalities both in India and Sri Lanka. The book is also a testimony to the strong relations between Sri Lanka and India, reinforced by the pillar of Buddhism.  

The solemn event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Independence of Sri Lanka commenced with the hoisting of the National Flag by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda, followed by the rendering of the National Anthem. A special feature of the event was that the National Anthem of Sri Lanka was sung by staff members of the High Commission, including six Indian nationals. 

High Commissioner Moragoda also garlanded the bronze bust of Sir Don Baron Jayatilaka, the first Representative of Sri Lanka to India, which was installed in the High Commission premises last November to mark the 80th anniversary of Sri Lanka sending her first diplomatic representative to India.

Multi religious observances, representing four major religions in Sri Lanka were conducted and Independence Day messages by the President, Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs were read in all three languages at the ceremony.

At the end of the ceremony, President of Indo-Sri Lanka International Buddhist Association in Sarnath, Varanasi Venerable Dr. K. Siri Sumedha Thero, on behalf of the Buddhist societies, temples, monasteries, and institutions situated in sacred Buddhist sites in India and the Sri Lankan Dharmaduta monks presented a memento to High Commissioner Moragoda marking the 75th anniversary of Independence.