As Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Sri Lanka on a 03 (three) day visit
with a grand welcome ceremony, it is worth looking back at the Buddhist connect between the two countries through speeches made by the Prime Minister on this ancient legacy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speeches on Buddhism have played a pivotal role in strengthening Indo-Sri Lankan cultural and spiritual ties. By consistently emphasizing the shared Buddhist heritage between India and Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Modi has projected India as not just a regional partner, but as a custodian of a spiritual legacy deeply revered in Sri Lanka. His speeches often highlight the message of peace, compassion, and universal brotherhood — values deeply rooted in Buddhism — which resonate strongly with the Sri Lankan public. This consistent messaging has helped reinforce people-to-people connections and promote cultural diplomacy.
On Abhidhamma Day, October 20, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed the deep-rooted Buddhist connection between India and Sri Lanka, tracing it back to the ancient journey of Emperor Ashoka’s children, Mahendra and Sanghamitra, who first brought the Buddha’s teachings to the island nation. Prime Minister Modi highlighted how Sri Lanka’s early acceptance of Buddhism was a powerful testament to the universal relevance of the Buddha’s message. He described Abhidhamma Day as not only a spiritual occasion but also a moment to rekindle and strengthen the centuries-old cultural and spiritual ties between the two countries.
On this occasion, the Kushinagar-Colombo flight was also inaugurated and the sacred Kapilavastu Buddha relics from the Rajaguru Sri Subhuthi Maha Vihara of Wasakaduwa were displayed in several Indian cities. Significantly, a small portion of these relics were subsequently offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama by Ven. Wasakaduwe Mahanayaka Thero, during a visit to Mc Leodganj in April 2024 with lot of fanfare.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also emphasized Buddhism as a vital link between India and Sri Lanka, using it as a foundation to strengthen bilateral ties. He has highlighted on number of occasions Buddhism’s role in shaping Asia’s future, declaring that "without Buddha, this century cannot be Asia’s century." This statement made by Prime Minister Modi during the International Buddha Purniama Divas organised by the International Buddhist Confederation in New Delhi on May 04, 2015 reflected his vision of leveraging shared spiritual heritage to unite Asian nations. PM Modi’s government has increasingly integrated Buddhist diplomacy into its foreign policy, recognizing its power to build cultural and spiritual bridges.
The announcement on April 5 by PM Modi about the holy relics from Devni Mori in Gujarat to be displayed in Sri Lanka soon, added a special flavour to this critical Buddhist connect. The Devni Mori relics were found in a casket in the 3rd-4th century AD near Shamalaji, Gujarat. They were found in a copper bowl wrapped with a silk cloth and kept inside a casket. The Brahmi inscription outside the casket read - “Abode of the bodily relics of Lord Buddha”.
Prime Minister Modi’s personal engagement further underscores his commitment to this cause. He makes it a point to visit Buddhist temples during his international travels, such as Toji and Kinkakuji in Japan. Notably, during his 2015 visit to Sri Lanka, he addressed Buddhist monks at Colombo’s Mahabodhi Temple and paid homage to the sacred Mahabodhi tree in Anuradhapura.
Anuradhapura is a hub of Theravada Buddhism and was also a centre of intellectual exchange among prominent Buddhist philosophers such as Buddhaghosa, who has written commentaries on the Tipitaka (Buddhist Scripture) and other texts of Theravada Buddhism. Anuradhapura is also symbolic by way of having preserved many lost Buddhist texts of India which contain valuable details regarding early southern India as well as of early dynasties in northern, central and eastern India. PM Modi would be visiting Anuradhapura during this visit as well.
These symbolic acts resonate deeply with Sri Lanka’s Buddhist majority, reinforcing India’s role as the birthplace of Buddhism and a respectful partner in preserving its legacy. Through such gestures, Prime Minister Modi has effectively strengthened Buddhist cultural ties and deepened the spiritual connection between India and the Buddhist nations, including Sri Lanka.
The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) has been making efforts to facilitate this ancient linkage between the two countries by regularly organising visits by Senior Sangha members from Sri Lanka to India to visit the sacred Buddhist sites in India.
Likewise, the Secretary General of International Buddhist Confederation Shartse Khensur Jangchup Choeden Rinpoche attended the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Ashokan Pillar at the sacred Rajaguru Srisubuthi Wasakaduwa Mahaviharaya in Sri Lankan’s western province in January 2024. In order to intensify and build on this engagement, IBC has nominated Dr. Damenda Porage, a senior Sri Lankan scholar and a specialist in Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism as a Deputy Secretary General with the IBC.
Prime Minister Modi has effectively used Buddhism as a bridge for cultural diplomacy, creating a positive perception of India in Buddhist nations. His emphasis on shared values and sacred history has bolstered India’s image as a trustworthy and culturally connected neighbour. The successful relic movement and the warm reception it received also showcased how spiritual gestures can transcend political boundaries, fostering goodwill and mutual respect between nations.
@Portia Conrad
Head of international Division
International Buddhist confederation
#buddhistbrotherhood
