The Sri Lanka High Commission in Canberra organized a public exposition of sacred relics of Lord Buddha to coincide with the celebration of Wesak from 27th – 29th May 2010.

The two relics were gifted by Most Venerable Namalwewa Dharmakeerthi Sri Rathanajothi Rathanasara Nayaka Thera, Chief Incumbent of the Mihintale Rajamaha Viharaya on 26th June 2009 and Most Venerable Wendaruwa Sri Upali Nayaka Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Polonnaruwa Solosmasthana Rajamaha Viharaya on 29th June 2009 to Most Venerable Phra Palad Sudham Sudhammo, Abbot of the Vat Dhammakaya Temple in Sydney and President of the Buddhist Federation of Australia, following a visit by the Hon Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka, former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to the Dhammakaya temple in Thailand.

The sacred relics were brought to Australia and opened to public viewing to enable members of the various Buddhist communities and others in Canberra to venerate and pay their respects to the sacred relics. At the launch ceremony held on 27th May 2010, the sacred relics were escorted into the venue by Kandyan dancers and drummers from the Canberra School of Sri Lankan Dance and Language, dancing to the tunes of “Uththama Muni Dalada” and the sounds of “magul bera”. The traditional Buddhist religious rituals including Buddha Puja and the offering of flowers were observed followed by the chanting of Pirith in the Theravadha, Mahayana and Vajragnana traditions.

On the invitation extended by the Sri Lanka High Commission, twenty two Buddhist monks from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Sri Lanka who are presently residing in temples in Canberra and Sydney, attended this event. In addition to the Sri Lankan monks Venerable Neluwakande Gnanananda Thero, Venerable Kotapola Upali Thero and Venerable Walala Dhammaratna Thero who are in Canberra, Venerable W. Anandasiri and Venerable Nattarampotha Chandima Thero from Brisbane also attended the event.

Ms Joy Burch, MLA, Minister for Multicultural Affairs in the ACT was the Chief Guest at this event. Most Venerable Phra Palad Sudham Sudhammo, Abbot of the Vat Dhammakaya temple in Sydney and President of the Buddhist Federation of Australia, H.E. Mr. Senaka Walgampaya, P.C. High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Australia and H.E. Dr. Kriangsak Kittichaisaree, Ambassador of Thailand in Australia also spoke on this occasion. High Commissioner Walgampaya referred to the bilateral ties between Sri Lanka and Thailand and the longstanding connections throughout the years with regard to Buddhism and Buddhist activities.

A large number of Ambassadors and High Commissioners from Buddhist countries and from non Buddhist countries as well as members of the Diplomatic Community from several countries and officials from the Department of Immigration & Citizenship attended the launch ceremony held at the Belconnen Arts Centre in Canberra.

Thereafter, the relics were taken to the Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihare located at 30, Jenke Circuit, Kambah for public exposition on the 27th, 28th and 29th May 2010. A large number of Sri Lankan and non Sri Lankans visited the Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihare to pay their respects to the sacred relics.