Marking his first official visit to the State of Gujarat, Sri Lanka 's High Commissioner to India, Milinda Moragoda today (21) unveiled two photographs of Sri Lankan origin at the international terminal of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.

High Commissioner Moragoda is in the State of Gujarat on a two-day official visit to meet with state officials and potential investors.

The photographs, which have been installed at a prominent location in the Ahmedabad airport, feature two murals painted by the eminent Sri Lankan painter Solias Mendis in the Kelaniya Rajamaha Vihara. 

The first mural depicts Arahat Mahinda,  delivering the message of the Buddha to King Devanampiyatissa upon arriving in Sri Lanka. The second mural depicts the arrival to Sri Lanka of Theri  Sanghamitta, bearing the right-hand branch sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi tree. 
These two historical events that occurred in the 3rd century BCE marked the commencement of a Buddhist civilization in Sri Lanka and epitomize the strong and unbreakable civilizational bonds that exist between Sri Lanka and India.

Previously, in last October the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi presented two photographs depicting the same murals, to be installed at the newly inaugurated international airport in Kushinagar.

Action has been initiated to install similar photographs at international airports in Buddha Gaya and Varanasi shortly, enhancing Sri Lanka's cultural footprint at the level of the States of the Union of India.

High Commission of Sri Lanka
New Delhi

21 July 2022