September 06, Colombo (LNW): Indian movie star Gagan Malik, famous for his role as Prince Siddhartha in the film “Sri Siddhartha Gautama,” initiated a pilgrimage of Indian Buddhists to Sri Lanka. The actor and Buddhist activist, accompanied by 65 Buddhist pilgrims from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana, called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at Temple Trees in Colombo on Wednesday, September 4.
Welcoming the group, Prime Minister Gunawardena highlighted that this was the largest Buddhist pilgrimage group to visit Sri Lanka in recent years. He emphasized the deep cultural and religious ties between India and Sri Lanka, stating, “Buddhism is the strongest bond which binds India and Sri Lanka together, and we are eternally grateful to Indian Emperor Ashoka and his son, Arahant Mahinda, for giving us the greatest gift of the teaching of The Buddha.”
Actor Gagan Malik expressed his commitment to promoting Buddhism and enhancing Sri Lanka’s image in India and globally. “I brought this large group of pilgrims to Sri Lanka to help promote the island’s rich Buddhist heritage,” he said, adding that there is significant potential for Buddhist pilgrim tours, given the millions of Buddhists in India.
One of the pilgrims, Anita Pramod from Maharashtra, shared her joy at fulfilling her desire to worship the sacred Buddha relic at the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. “We visited the temple in the beautiful hill capital of Kandy, and it was a memorable experience,” she said. “I brought my two small children, and they are so happy to see this beautiful country.”
Shashikant Wankhade from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, spoke about his experience in Anuradhapura, where the group visited the majestic Chaithiyas and worshiped the Sacred Sri Mahabodhi. He expressed his intention to encourage friends and family to visit these sacred sites.
The event was also attended by MP Yadamini Gunawardena and Navin Gunaratne, the producer of the film “Sri Siddhartha Gautama.”
