Ceremonial commencement of work in the year 2018

The staff of the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai commenced work for the year 2018 by reaffirming the oath of the public service and offering alms to the Buddhist Sangha in Maharashtra.

Ven. Naluwela Ananda Mahathero, Chief Incumbent of the Maha Mahind Vihar in Ulhasnagar along with members of the Maha Sangha residing in Maharashtra chanted Seth pirith invoking blessings on Sri Lanka. In his discourse, Ven. Naluwela Ananda Mahathero highlighted the shared cultural heritage between Sri Lanka and India; from the Mauryan Empire’s land of Magadha, India’s ancient seat of Buddhism which extended from the present day Eastern Uttar Pradesh to Orissa and the linguistic similarities between the Sinhala language and the Sanskrit based languages of India. The Venerable Thero encouraged the exchange of Buddhist scholars between India and Sri Lanka.

Rakesh Bhaskar, Principal Commissioner of the Government of Maharashtra participated in the alms giving together with the staff of the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai.