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A delegation from the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) led by Senior Venerable Thích Đức Thiện, Vice President of the VBS’s Central Executive Council cum Vice President of the Vietnam - Sri Lanka Friendship Association visited Sri Lanka on May 8-11.
During the working trip, the Buddhist delegation paid courtesy visits to Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry, Minister of the Buddhism, Religion and Culture Vidura Wickramanayaka, and Senior Venerable Mugunuwela Anuruddha, General Secretary of All Island Buddhist Council. In addition, the delegation also visited some Buddhist sects of Sri Lanka.
Buddhist delegation meets with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka
Exchanges during the visits highly appreciated good traditional friendships and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Sri Lanka and agreed to further promote people-to-people exchanges, cultural and Buddhist cooperation between the two countries.
In particular, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena spoke highly of practical supports from the VBS, the Vietnam - Sri Lanka Friendship Association, Vietnamese people and Vietnamese community in Sri Lanka, contributing to help the Sri Lankan people overcome past difficulties.
The Prime Minister stressed that the Sri Lanka Government and concerning agencies would continue creating favorable conditions for activities of the Vietnamese Embassy and the community, including monks and nuns studying in Sri Lanka.
The delegation visits Sri Lanka Minister of the Buddhism, Religion and Culture
Speaking at the visits, Senior Venerable Thích Đức Thiện thanked Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and the leaders of Sri Lanka ministries for welcoming the delegation. He noted that Vietnam always places importance on promoting cooperation between the two countries, including Buddhist cooperation.
Relating to Buddhist cooperation, Senior Venerable Thích Đức Thiện agreed that the two sides would enhance exchanges between pagodas, Buddhist TV channels and tourism between Vietnam and Sri Lanka.
At the courtesy call to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, the Buddhist delegation presented 20,000 USD for buying medicines and health equipment for Sri Lanka people.
PH