By IANS,
Kolkata : A proposed international university Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa will inaugurate in Sanchi Friday will be a tribute to a famed Buddhist revivalist who had great love for India.
The new international university of Buddhist and Indic Studies, to come up at Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh, will be “a befitting tribute” to Anagarika Dharmapala, Sri Lankan diplomat Sugeeswara Senadhira said here.
Senadhira was speaking at an event to mark the 148th birth anniversary of Dharmapala here Monday.
The Sri Lankan president arrives in New Delhi Wednesday night. He will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday and he will be in Sanchi a day later.
Senadhira recalled Dharmapala’s great affection for India and his stated desire to be re-born in India in his next reincarnation.
He said Dharmapala’s vision was that the Indian subcontinent should take the prime place in the world as the centre of wisdom.
Senadhira unveiled a new Buddha statue at the Mahabodhi Headquarters here and released a book, “The History of Sri Dharmarajika Chaitya Vihara,” written by Tarit Kanti Roy.