India’s contribution to the ongoing Deyata Kirula Exhibition has been a photographic exhibition titled “India through Sri Lankan Eyes” and a photographic portrayal of the Development Partnership between India and Sri Lanka being carried out through a number of projects under grant assistance from India and through the concessional Lines of Credit extended by India.

“India through Sri Lankan Eyes”, curated by Mithra Weerakone, President of the Photographic Society of Sri Lanka, was unveiled at the Ministry of External Affairs Pavilion at the Deyata Kirula Exhibition being held at Oyamaduwa, Anuradhapura on 4th February 2012. Prof. G.L. Peiris, Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs accompanied by H.E. Ashok K. Kantha, High Commissioner of India, inaugurated the Indian Pavilion on 4th February 2012 after the Deyata Kirula Exhibition was officially inaugurated by H.E. the President of Sri Lanka.

Mithra Weerakone, with the support of the High Commission of India,  had visited India in December 2011, when he undertook an eight-day journey on the Mahaparinirvana train – a special train run by the Indian Railways starting from New Delhi covering various Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India. This exhibition is a display of popular Buddhist sites revered and visited by a large number of Sri Lankan pilgrims to pay homage to Lord Buddha. (Details of special trains are available on the website www.irctc.co.in)

The photographs display an excellent combination of natural beauty and human devotion and captures the emotions involved, through “Sri Lankan eyes”.  Befitting the theme, a replica of the gate of the famous Sanchi Stupa adorns the exhibition and has been appreciated by all the visitors to the Ministry of External Affairs Pavilion. Documentaries on Buddhism, including on Sanchi, are being screened at the Pavilion. The exhibition is attracting a large number of visitors.

India has taken a number of initiatives to jointly celebrate the 2600th anniversary of the Attainment of Enlightenment by Lord Buddha - Sambuddhatva Jayanti - with Sri Lanka. These include:
 

•  Organization of an International Buddhist Conference in Kandy (Mar 2011);

• Installation of a 16-foot high statue of Lord Buddha in the famous Sri Dalada Maligawa complex in Kandy(Sep 2011);

• Launch of a new train originating from Chennai and touching key Buddhist sites in the North, named “Damba pa Vandana” (from Feb 2012);

• Issuing gratis visas to Sri Lankan pilgrims;

• Organizing a recital “Nirvana – The Life of Gautam Buddha” and a photographic exhibition “Buddhism in India” during Vesak celebrations in May 2011.

The photographic exhibition “India through Sri Lankan Eyes” is a continuation of our joint celebration of the Sambuddhatva Jayanti.

The exhibition portraying India-Sri Lanka partnership through Development Cooperation showcases a number of Projects that have already been completed or those that are in various stages of implementation by India through grant assistance or concessionary lines of credit. The exhibition includes photographs of the handing over of the first lot of houses from the Pilot project of 1000 houses by the Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs of India S.M. Krishna, handing over of the first lot of the 10,000 bicycles, the inauguration of the reconstructed railway track between Galle-Hikkaduwa under the USD 167.4 million line of credit and the railway rehabilitation project in the North (Omanthai-Pallai, Medawchchiya - Madhu, Madhu - Talaimannar and Pallai – KKS sectors) under an Indian concessional line of credit of USD 800 million. The exhibition also highlights successfully completed projects implemented by India such as gifting of tractors, humanitarian assistance, relief and resettlement assistance including family packs, agricultural kits, supply of galvanized iron roofing sheets, supply of cements bags, setting up of field hospitals, demining, setting up of Vocational Training Centres, etc.

A number of Indian products especially automobiles are also displayed at the Deyata Kirula through the local authorized representatives/dealers in Sri Lanka and has been generating substantial interest amongst the visitors.

The Indian Pavilion also includes basic health camp where visitors can get on the spot information on basic health parameters such as blood sugar and blood pressure.  The camp has attracted a substantial number of visitors.

Photographs of the Indian participation in the Deyata Kirula exhibition, along with photographs of some of the Indian products on display, are available at the High Commission of India Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hcicolombo

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