High Commission of India
Colombo
PRESS RELEASE

Exposition of the Holy Devnimori Relics

The Exposition of the Holy Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha from Gujarat, India was inaugurated by H.E. President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka from the Sri Lankan side and Governor of Gujarat Shri Acharya Devvrat, and Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Harsh Sanghavi from the Indian side in the presence of Chief Incumbent Ven. Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thero at the Gangaramaya Temple, Colombo on February 04, 2026. Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Health & Mass Media, and Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government were also present. The Exposition will be open for public veneration from February 05, 2026 onwards.

2.       The Exposition follows the announcement made by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his State Visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025. It reflects the deep-rooted spiritual and civilisational ties between India and Sri Lanka.

3.       The arrival of the Holy Relics on February 04, 2026, coinciding with Sri Lanka’s 78th Independence Day, added special significance to the occasion. The Exposition is the first public veneration of the relics outside India. India had earlier organized the Exposition of Kapilavastu Relics in 2012; and Sarnath Relics in 2018, in Sri Lanka.

4.       Devnimori, located in Gujarat, India, is an important Buddhist archaeological site where excavations uncovered a Sharira Stupa containing relic caskets with sacred ashes, a copper box, and gold and silver foil. One casket bears an inscription in Brahmi script and Sanskrit reading “DashabalaShariraNilaya” — “the abode of the bodily relic of Lord Buddha” — making these Relics among the most significant Buddhist archaeological discoveries in India.

5.       The Holy Relics were accompanied by Governor of Gujarat Shri. Acharya Devvrat, and Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri. Harsh Sanghavi, along with a delegation consisting of officials from the Ministry of Culture, National Museum, M.S. University of Baroda and monks and officials from the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC). 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 at Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo.

6.       Two exhibitions, titled “Unearthing the Sacred Piprahwa” and “Sacred Relic and Cultural Engagement of Contemporary India” were inaugurated by Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Health & Mass Media, along with Hon. (Dr.) Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Hon. (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Governor of Gujarat, Shri Acharya Devvrat and Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Harsh Sanghavi at the Gangaramaya Temple.