"The proposed training centre to mark the 2550th Buddha Jayanthi celebrations in 2006 will fullfil a long-time need of the Buddhist world," said Dr. Bupendra Kumar Modi, President of the Maha Bodhi Society of India addressing the final meeting of the steering committee set up to organise the 2550th Buddha Jayanthi celebrations all over India.

"There is no other proper place than the Buddha Gaya to establish such an institution as was in this holy city Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment and became the Supreme Buddha.

A land for the purpose has already been acquired and we expect the world Buddhist community to support to realise this noble work," Dr. Modi said.

The steering Committee meeting at the Maha Bodhi Society of India, headquarters in Kolkata was attended by the Society's Vice-Presidents Justice Chittatosh Mukherjee, Justice Bhaghawati Prasad Banerjee, Dr. Amiya Kumar Samantha, former DIG, CID, West Bengal, and Justice Shyamal Sen, Chairman, Human Rights Commission, West Bengal and A.K. Bajuria, Advocate of the Kolkata High Court.

Dr. Amiya Kumar Samantha, a senior vice president of the Society requested to invite the Sri Lankan President attend the 2550th Buddha Jayanthi celebrations in 2006.