Published By: Pragati Pal
Last Updated: April 23, 2023, 00:01 IST
Sri Lankan High Commissioner Milinda Moragoda accompanied a bunch of senior monks from the nation, led by Most Venerable Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thero, to hand over the 2 work depicting the arrival of Ashoka’s son Mahendra and his daughter Sangamitra in Sri Lanka. (File Photo/PTI)
The work, replicas of the unique work at a temple situated shut to the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, shall be housed on the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA)
Sri Lankan envoy Milinda Moragoda gifted to India two work depicting the arrival of Emperor Ashoka’s son and daughter in the nation, officers in New Delhi stated on Saturday.
The work, replicas of the unique work at a temple situated shut to the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, shall be housed on the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), they stated.
Union Minister of State for Culture and External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi obtained the work on the NGMA, a senior official stated.
Sri Lankan High Commissioner Milinda Moragoda accompanied a bunch of senior monks from the nation, led by Most Venerable Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thero, to hand over the 2 work depicting the arrival of Ashoka’s son Mahendra and his daughter Sangamitra in Sri Lanka, she stated.
The NGMA, situated in Jaipur House close to India Gate, comes beneath the purview of the Union Ministry of Culture.
The handover ceremony came about on the sidelines of the two-day Global Buddhist Summit that ended on Friday. The Sri Lankan delegation to the Global Buddhist Summit was current, together with Mahabodhi Society representatives.
The minister later hosted them over lunch and a ‘Theravada meal’ was served to the delegates at her workplace, the officers stated.
Lekhi talked about the shut historic, cultural and conventional relationship between Sri Lanka and India, particularly in the context of Buddhism.
While highlighting the traditional linkage between the 2 nations, Lekhi emphasised that this relationship must be “additional strengthened by future generations over centuries”.
She described the pictures in detail, explaining how the king in Sri Lanka received Ashoka’s son and daughter. Lekhi thanked the Sri Lankan delegation and the high commissioner for their contribution to the NGMA. Some of the monks gifted books on Buddhism to Lekhi, said the officials.
The delegation was “elated” over the minister’s determination to do “one thing extra concrete” on the Buddhist network between Sri Lanka and India in the coming months and years, the official said.
Lekhi also tweeted about the paintings being gifted and also shared some pictures.
“Happy to unveil the beautiful murals painted by Solias Mendis and presented by @SLinIndia on the sidelines of the Global Buddhist Summit,” she tweeted.
“The murals showcase historic occasions marking the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and mirror the sturdy civilisational bonds between our two nations,” she added.
“The paintings as part of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Sri Lanka depict the arrival of King Ashoka’s son, Mahendra, and his daughter, Sangamitra, to Sri Lanka,” she added in her tweet.
Ashoka, additionally referred to as Ashoka the Great was an emperor of the Mauryan Empire whose capital was situated in historic Pataliputra (present day Patna). He had despatched his son Mahendra and daughter Sangamitra to Sri Lanka to unfold Buddhism.
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