Colombo, Feb 17 – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has confirmed his participation in the UN Vesak Day celebrations to be conducted in Sri Lanka in May this year, a minister said on Friday.
The UN Vesak Day will be observed in Sri Lanka to mark the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha who founded the Buddhism religion, China’s state media reported.
Sri Lanka is predominately a Buddhist country with more than 70 percent of the population following the region.
Sri Lanka’s Justice and Buddhasasana Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe told Xinhua that the government invited a number of world leaders and Indian Prime Minister Modi had confirmed his participation.
“We are going to celebrate the thrice blessed day on a grand scale,” he said.
The UN International Vesak Festival will be held in Sri Lanka from May 11 to 13.
