Milinda unveils two Lankan origin artworks at Ahmedabad and Gujarat International airports

Marking his first official visit to Gujarat, High Commiss-ioner, Milinda Moragoda Thursday unveiled photographs two SL-origin artworks at the international terminal of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, his New Delhi office said.

Moragoda was in Gujarat on a two-day official visit to meet state officials and potential investors, a news release said.The prominently displayed photos in the Ahmedabad airport, feature pictures of two Solias Mendis murals from the Kelaniya Rajamaha Vihara. The first depicts Arahat Mahinda, delivering the message of the Buddha to King Devanampiyatissa while the second depicts the arrival to Sri Lanka of Theri  Sanghamitta, bearing the right-hand branch sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi tree.

 These two historical events that occurred in the third century BCE marked the commencement of a Buddhist civilization in Sri Lanka and epitomize the strong and unbreakable civilizational bonds that exist between Sri Lanka and India, the high commission news release said.

 Last October, Moragoda presented two photographs of these murals, to be installed at the newly inaugurated international airport in Kushinagar. Action has been initiated to install similar photographs at international airports in Buddha Gaya and Varanasi shortly, the release said oting that this would  enhance Sri Lanka’s cultural footprint at the level of various States of the Union of India.