High Commissioner Saroja Sirisena attends opening ceremony of Birmingham Buddhist Maha Vihara

The largest stupa in Europe at the Birmingham Buddhist Maha Vihara was opened to the public on 16 September by Ven. Dr. Witharandeniye Kassapa Nayaka Thera O.B.E, the Chief Incumbent of Birmingham Buddhist Maha Vihara, Deputy Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain, and the Vice President of Sri Lankan Sangha Sabha of Great Britain. High Commissioner Saroja Sirisena attended the opening ceremony on the invitation of Ven. Dr. Witharandeniye Kassapa Nayaka Thera.  

In her remarks, High Commissioner Sirisena appreciated the efforts of Ven. Witharandeniye Kassapa Nayaka Thera in imparting the teachings of the Buddha and the essence of Sri Lankan values to next generation of Sri Lankans in the UK. She added that the Birmingham Buddhist Maha Vihara is a centre of worship and Buddhist teachings and plays a key role in inculcating Sri Lankan cultural awareness especially in the second and third generations of the British Sri Lankan community. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Incumbent of the Birmingham Buddhist Maha Vihara Ven. Dr. Witharandeniye Kassapa Thera appreciated the High Commission’s involvement with the Birmingham Buddhist Maha Vihara and thanked the High Commissioner for her participation at the opening ceremony. 

Lord Mayor of Birmingham City Council Chaman Lal, Buddhist clergy based in Sri Lanka and the UK and members of the Sri Lankan Buddhist community in Birmingham attended the event. 

From humble beginnings, Birmingham Maha Vihara has been developed into a fully-fledged international Buddhist cultural centre, which is known to be the largest Theravada Buddhist temple in Europe. The foundation stone for the stupa at the Birmingham Buddhist Maha Vihara was laid on 5 July 2020 by High Commissioner Saroja Sirisena.