Sri Lanka has officially handed back the Sacred Devnimori relics of Lord Buddha to India after successfully hosting a seven-day exposition at the Gangaramaya Temple in Hunupitiya, Colombo.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath stated that the country was privileged to host the revered relics, giving devotees from across the island an opportunity to pay homage since February 05. The exposition concluded this morning.
In a message shared on X (formerly Twitter), Minister Herath confirmed that the relics were returned to India following the conclusion of the special display. He also noted that Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel, Governor of Madhya Pradesh, and Chowna Mein, Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, met with him during their visit to Sri Lanka to oversee arrangements for the relics’ return.
Expressing gratitude to the Government of India, the Minister commended its close cooperation in organizing what he described as a landmark religious event. He said the exposition reflected the enduring civilizational links and strong cultural and religious bonds shared by the two nations.
According to Minister Herath, the occasion underscored the profound spiritual connection between Sri Lanka and India, rooted in their shared Buddhist heritage and the teachings of Gautama Buddha. He added that the successful hosting of the relics further reinforced friendship, goodwill, and mutual understanding between the peoples of both countries.
During the past six days, large numbers of devotees—including ministers, diplomats, and members of the public—visited the Gangaramaya Temple to venerate the sacred relics.
The Devnimori relics, discovered during archaeological excavations in the 1960s at the historic Devnimori site in Gujarat, India, had never previously been taken outside India before this exposition in Sri Lanka.
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