Sri Lankan Ambassador to Nepal WS Pereira has pledged his government’s support for the development of Lumbini.

At a ‘Special Buddha Worship Ceremony’ held on Saturday evening at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Maharajgunj, Ambassador Pereira stressed on the need to follow Buddha’s preaching for world peace.  He also underscored the importance of Buddhist philosophy and literature for social justice and co-existence.

The function was organised in the memory of the spiritual envoy Emperor Ashoka had sent to Sri Lanka. Ashoka–who became an emperor after committing huge massacres–adopted the Buddhist religion and helped spread it to different countries in Asia.

He added that Ashoka’s son Mahinda had spread Buddhist philosophy and literature in Sri Lanka in the third century BC.

All Nepal Monk Federation Chairman Maitreya Mahaastavir recited the Paanchasheela and noted that Ashoka contributed in spreading Buddhist philosophy and literature. Mahaastavir added that as Ashoka had set up the Ashoka pillar in Lumbini, there should not be a debate over the birthplace of Buddha.

Charumati Buddha Bihar Chief Monk Tapashi Dhamma said Ashoka had sent his sons, daughters and trusted envoys to the then Nepal Mandal, Sri Lanka, Burma and Thailand, among other countries, to spread Buddhism. The embassy has been organising such special worship ceremony on every full moon day of the Nepali month of Jestha.