Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India and Sri Lanka share “deep civilisational and spiritual bonds” while expressing gratitude to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for inaugurating the exhibition of the sacred Devnimori relics of Lord Buddha in Colombo. The exposition, held at Gangaramaya Temple from February 4–11, marks the first international display of these relics, which originate from the Devnimori archaeological site in Gujarat’s Aravalli district. The ceremony was attended by Sri Lankan President Dissanayake, Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and Chief Incumbent Ven. Kirinde Assaji Thero.

President Dissanayake welcomed the relics, posting on X: “Respectfully welcoming the Sacred Relics of the Buddha to Sri Lanka for public veneration until the 11th at Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple. I sincerely thank PM @narendramodi and the Government of India for fulfilling their promise to enable this sacred exposition,” along with photographs of the event.

Sharing the post, PM Modi added: “Gratitude to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for inaugurating the Exposition of the Holy Devnimori Relics at Colombo’s sacred Gangaramaya Temple. During my April 2025 visit, we decided these relics would come to Sri Lanka, allowing people to pay their respects. Our nations are connected by deep civilisational and spiritual bonds. May Lord Buddha’s timeless message of compassion, peace, and harmony guide humanity.”

The exposition stems from an announcement made by Modi during his State Visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025 and highlights the enduring spiritual and cultural ties between the two countries, according to the Indian High Commission in Colombo. The arrival of the relics on February 4, Sri Lanka’s 78th Independence Day, added special significance.

This is the first public veneration of the Devnimori relics outside India. India previously organised exhibitions of the Kapilavastu relics in 2012 and the Sarnath relics in 2018 in Sri Lanka. The relics were transported from the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda to Colombo aboard a special Indian Air Force aircraft with full state honours.