Thai Buddhist group in Sri Lanka on spiritual, cultural tour
A group of 80 Thai tourists on pilgrimage, led by Thailand Maheyong Monastery Chief Prelate Phra Bhawanakhemakum Thera, arrived in the island on May 21, to embark on a spiritual and cultural tour.
They were warmly welcomed by the officials of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, at Bandaranaike International Airport.
The arrival of the delegation is the first of its kind since the deadly attacks on Easter on April 21, in Colombo and suburbs.
The delegation, which pursued their travel to Sri Lanka with much enthusiasm even after it was cancelled, wished to convey a sense of hope that the country and its tourism industry is returning to normalcy.
Phra Bhawanakhemakum Thera is accompanied by five other disciples and 70 members of the dayake group who will also be travelling with him. The group will be in the country for six days until May 26.
Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Kishu Gomes expressing his thoughts on the visit said, “Being a Buddhist country with Buddhism embedded into predominant culture, a large delegation of Thai devotees led by chief prelate Ven. Phra Bhawanakhemakummaha thera, led by several other Buddhist monks in the delegation, the visit is very timely, to send positive messages to the rest of the world, with regards to the prevailing security situation in the country.
Buddhist tourism, for us, is a new segment that has grown over the past few years. Not just within the region but across the entire world with a significant number of tourists from the western world visiting the country, to study Buddhist philosophy and meditation. Etc.”
The group took part in an auspicious ceremony to donate a Buddhist statue to the Thai Viharaya in Mabima in Kelaniya. Senior officials of the SLTPB also participated along with Gomes, accompanied by the representatives of Bernard Tours (Pvt.) Ltd.
The group is scheduled to undertake a visit to Hambantota, Kataragama and Kandy and will also tour the cultural triangle before departing. They hope to showcase that Sri Lanka is a safe place to travel to and that the spiritual traveller will find it to be a rejuvenating destination. In Sri Lanka, they will be under the custodianship of Rassagala Seewali Thera, who has entrusted Bernard Tours with the ground handling of this group.