1. Recognizing that their shared cultural and civilizational links provided the bedrock of bilateral relations, India and Sri Lanka agreed in the Joint Declaration issued during the State Visit of H.E. the President of Sri Lanka to India in June 2010 that the 2600th year of the attainment of enlightenment by Lord Buddha (Sambuddhatva Jayanthi) would be commemorated through joint activities by the two countries.

2. As a part of the activities being undertaken by India to commemorate the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi and at the request of Hon.ble Chamal Rajapaksa, Speaker of the Parliament and Chairman, Vesak 2011- International Buddhist Festival, an Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) sponsored Odissi Dance troupe is presenting a recital “Nirvana- the life of Gautam Budha” at the BMICH Exhibition Centre, Colombo from 18-21 May 2011.

3. A photographic exhibition sponsored by Indian Council of Cultural Relations “Buddhism in India” by renowned photographer Sondeep Shankar is also at display at the BMICH Exhibition Centre form 18-22 May 2011. India’s contribution to the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi celebrations also include screening of a film “Gautam Buddha” by famous Director Bimal Roy and screening of documentaries “The Oneness of creation”, “The Path of Compassion”, “The Land of Buddha” and “Path of Buddha” at the BMICH and Independence square.

4. On March 20, H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of the Socialist Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka had inaugurated the International Buddhist Conference at Sri Lanka International Buddhist Academy (SIBA), which was also organized by the Indian Council of Cultural relations (ICCR) as part of the joint commemoration by India and Sri Lanka of the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi. The other activities being undertaken by India to commemorate the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi celebrations include an exposition of the Kapilvastu Relics in Sri Lanka later this year, setting up of an Indian Gallery at the International Buddhist Museum in Kandy and installation of a 16 feet high idol of Lord Buddha in the Sarnath style from the Gupta Period at the entrance of the International Buddhist Museum complex in Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy.