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Prime Minister Narendra Modi connected Thursday (February 5, 2026) said India and Sri Lanka are connected by "deep civilisational and spiritual bonds" arsenic helium thanked President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for inaugurating the exposition of the beatified Devnimori relics of Lord Buddha successful Colombo.
The first-ever planetary exposition of these ineffable relics, which originate from the Devnimori archaeological tract successful Gujarat's Aravalli district, is taking spot astatine Gangaramaya Temple from February 4-11.
It was inaugurated by Sri Lankan President Dissanayaka on with Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and the state's Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi successful the beingness of Chief Incumbent Ven. Kirinde Assaji Thero astatine the Gangaramaya Temple, Colombo connected Wednesday (February 4).
"Respectfully invited the Sacred Relics of the Buddha to Sri Lanka contiguous for nationalist veneration until the 11th astatine Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple. I profoundly admit PM @narendramodi and the Government of India for honouring their committedness and enabling this ineffable exposition," the Sri Lankan President posted connected X connected February 4.
He besides shared immoderate photos of the exposition that volition beryllium unfastened for nationalist veneration from February 5 onwards.
Prime Minister Modi, portion sharing his post, wrote connected X: "Gratitude to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for inaugurating the Exposition of the Holy Devnimori Relics astatine the ineffable Gangaramaya Temple successful Colombo.
"During my sojourn successful April 2025, it was decided these relics volition travel to Sri Lanka, frankincense giving the accidental for the radical to wage their respects. Our nations are connected by heavy civilisational and spiritual bonds. May Lord Buddha’s timeless connection of compassion, bid and harmony proceed to usher humanity. @anuradisanayake," helium said.
The exposition follows the announcement made by Prime Minister Modi during his State Visit to Sri Lanka successful April 2025. It reflects the deep-rooted spiritual and civilisational ties betwixt India and Sri Lanka, the Indian High Commission successful Colombo said a time ago.
The accomplishment of the beatified relics successful Colombo, connected February 4, coinciding with Sri Lanka’s 78th Independence Day, added "special value to the occasion," it said.
This exposition is the archetypal nationalist veneration of the relics extracurricular India. India had earlier organised the Exposition of Kapilavastu Relics successful 2012 and Sarnath Relics successful 2018 successful Sri Lanka.
The beatified Devnimori relics, which were ferried to Sri Lanka successful a peculiar craft of the Indian Air Force with afloat State honours, are primitively enshrined astatine the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda successful Vadodara.
Devnimori, located successful Gujarat, is an important Buddhist archaeological tract wherever excavations uncovered a Sharira Stupa containing relic caskets with ineffable ashes, a copper box, and golden and metallic foil, the High Commission said successful a statement.
One casket bears an inscription successful Brahmi publication and Sanskrit speechmaking “DashabalaShariraNilaya” — “the abode of the bodily relic of Lord Buddha” — making these relics among the astir important Buddhist archaeological discoveries successful India, it said.
On February 2, India had termed the exposition arsenic a "profound motion of spiritual outreach and taste diplomacy".
A high-level Indian delegation led by the Gujarat politician and lawman main minister, on with elder monks and officials, accompanied the relics during their ferrying from India to Sri Lanka.
The Devnimori relics were archetypal explored successful 1957 by eminent archaeologist S.N. Chowdhry. The excavations revealed important Buddhist structures and relics that "stand grounds to the flourishing of Buddhism successful occidental India during the aboriginal centuries," India's Ministry of Culture said.
The relics were "received by Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government astatine Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo," the connection said.
Two exhibitions, titled “Unearthing the Sacred Piprahwa” and “Sacred Relic and Cultural Engagement of Contemporary India” person besides been inaugurated astatine the Gangaramaya Temple.
PM Modi, during his April 2025 visit, had besides announced a assistance for the improvement of the Sacred City Complex task successful Anuradhapura. This is successful summation to $15 cardinal assistance for the promotion of Buddhist ties, announced successful 2020, the precocious committee said.
"India remains committed to continuously deepening the civilidational linkages with Sri Lanka done specified bilateral initiatives and regular exchanges betwixt monastic and scholarly communities," it said.
