The first Buddhist Pilgrim FAM tour under the Temple-to-Temple Diplomacy program
The first Buddhist Pilgrim FAM tour organized by Prof. Saj A U Mendis, Sri Lanka Ambassador to Viet Nam, Mahesh Premathilake, Minister Counsellor and Mrs. Margurite Aluwihare, Honorary Consul in Ho Chi Minh City in Ha Noi under the Temple-to-Temple Diplomacy program in coordination with Long Huong pagoda in Dong Anh District had been undertaken from 3 – 11 December 2023 to Sri Lanka. This Pilgrim tour was sponsored by the Walkers tours in Sri Lanka.
This pilgrim tour was initiated as an outcome of the Temple -Temple diplomacy program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sri Lanka. The Most Venerable Thich Thanh Cuong, Vice President Hai Duong Tourism Association and Chief Abbot of Cuong Xa Pagoda in Hai Duong Province of Ven Phap Can of Long Hung pagoda led the Buddhist Pilgrim FAM Tour to Sri Lanka along with leading travel and tour agents in Viet Nam.
The delegation visited most important religious destinations and other touristic places in Sri Lanka including Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla Kandy, Nuwra Eliya. The delegation met Pallegama Hemarathne Thero, Chief Incumbent of Bomaluwa temple and Atamasthandhipathi on 06 December 2023 and paid homage to the Scared Jayasri Maha Bodhi temple in Anuradhapura. They have also visited Nagananda International Buddhist University in Sri Lanka while participating in the graduation ceremony 2023.
The Viet Nam Buddhist monks and the travel agents had a meeting with Hon. Ali Sabry, Foreign Minister, Hon. Tharaka Balasooriya, State Minister of Foreign Affairs on 08 December 2023 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while participating at the Press conference. Most Venerable, Mugunuwela Anuradha Thero, the General Secretary of All Island Buddhist Council and the Kerawalapitiye Sumedha Thero of Mulgandhakuti Viharayaya were also present at the meeting while discussing possible and potential areas of Buddhist and cultural cooperation between Sri Lanka and Viet Nam with the Hon. State Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Viet Nam Buddhist Monks delegation.
His Excellency Madam. Ho Thi Thanh Truc, Viet Nam Ambassador to Sri Lanka also present at the meeting while making necessary facilitation and extending hospitalities for the Viet Nam Buddhist delegation during their stay in Viet Nam.
This Viet Nam Buddhist Pilgrim FAM Tour elevated the image of Sri Lanka into new heights while paving the way for increasing the Pilgrim tourism between Sri Lanka and Viet Nam in future
