China blocking Dalai Lama's Sri Lanka visit, says top Buddhist leader

By Sidhant Sibal, WION, Apr 5, 2024

New Delhi, India -- A top Sri Lankan Buddhist leader has said that China has been blocking the visit of Tibetan Buddhist Spiritual leader, Dalai Lama to the country. Ven. Dr Waskaduwe Mahindawansa made the comments in an exclusive interview with our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal in Delhi.

He said, "We respect him and invited him to Sri Lanka, but China did not like that. China pressed against our government as well, we don't like that. He is a Buddhist leader, he has the freedom, and we have the freedom to invite."

Ven. Dr Waskaduwe is the Mahanayaka Thero of Amarapura Sambuddha Sasanodaya Maha Nikaya. It is a Buddhist monastic order in Sri Lanka. It is one of the major Nikayas in Theravada Buddhism, which is the dominant form of Buddhism practiced in Sri Lanka and many other parts of South and Southeast Asia.

The prominent Buddhist leader is in India this week to hand over part of Kapilavastu relics of Buddha to His Holiness Dalai Lama. He said, "Dalai Lama is a very important person. Buddhism was born in India, and his doctrine in India, his doctrine went to Sri Lanka via Ashoka's son- Mahinda, and daughter  Sanghamitra. So I think, this is the way, one or two, original Buddha relics are presented to His Holiness, the Dalai Lama."

Here are the excerpts of the full conversation:

WION: Can you tell us briefly about the background and significance of the relic that you handed over to His Holiness and what was the intent behind this?

Ven. Dr. Waskaduwe Mahindawansa: Dalai Lama is a very famous leader, not only in India but a world-famous leader. So many times I heard his lectures and many friends from other countries asked about him and about his lectures also. I thought I must go and meet him. I have met him 203 times. So, I decided that I must present special things from Sri Lanka, to give to him. The Dalai Lama always preaches about kindness. He is very close to me.

WION: If you can talk about Kapilavastu relics..

Ven. Dr. Waskaduwe: After Buddha's cremation, many countries fought to get his relics. 8 countries/ rajdhanis. One portion was given to Buddha's relatives, Kapilavastu relics were to his village. They made a structure and put the relics. After that, over thousands of years, when India was under British occupation, the English discovered it. One Alexander Cunningham discovered it, and excavated the land. He found a big stone box and found the relics. He was not able to determine what the relics were about. It had some letters of Brahmi words. A Sri Lanka monk, a high priest, knew the relics, and pointed out these are Buddha relics. A portion from the relics were sent to Sri Lanka, to my temple. It was kept in my temple, generation after generation.

WION: And you gave Kapilavastu relics to the Dalai Lama..

Ven. Dr. Waskaduwe: The Dalai Lama knows history well. Myself and the relics committee discussed it, we decided that Buddha was born in India, relics in Sri Lanka and I'm the custodian. So one original Buddha relic was brought to India, and presented to his holiness, the Dalai Lama. This is because, Dalai Lama is a very important person. Buddhism was born in India, his doctrine in India, his doctrine went to Sri Lanka via Ashoka's son- Mahinda and Daughter  Sanghamitra. So I think, this is the way, one or 2, original Buddha relics are presented to his Holiness, the Dalai Lama.

WION: How was the reception at Dharamshala? If you can share some experiences or good memories that you can take away from the Dharamshala visit?

Ven. Dr. Waskaduwe: It is a very interesting place, I visited it for the first time. It is near the Himalayas. It's a historic event, and a very calm place. Very important place in India, a historical event.

WION: Plans to continue the engagement with the office of Dalai Lama?

Ven. Dr. Waskaduwe: I thought yesterday, I must visit this place every year. Many people from across the world visit this place. Very important for India, this place. I must request that Indians, Sri Lanka, must visit respective countries.

WION: We understand that IBC assisted in the process of facilitating the smooth movement of your team from Colombo to Dharamshala and back and IBC was recently involved in the exposition of the relic in Thailand. Your comments please.

Ven. Dr. Waskaduwe: International Buddhist Confederation is a very important organisation in the world, IBC, 45-49 countries connected to it, 400 organisations connected to. They are very important to the world, not just India. IBC has done great work, with relics being sent to Thailand.

WION: You know, China's view on the Dalai Lama, do you think China will be angry with you giving the relics

Ven. Dr. Waskaduwe: Last time, from Sri Lanka top Monks invited the Dalai Lama to visit Sri Lanka. But problem from China, why I don't know. We respect the Dalai Lama, as a Buddhist leader, he is not a merchant. We respect him and invited to Sri Lanka, but China did not like that. China pressed against our government as well, we don't like that. He is a Buddhist leader, he has the freedom, and we have freedom to invite. So in future, if he visits Sri Lanka, we are happy. Sri Lankans also visit Himachal as well. What is the problem, he is the Buddhist leader, he preaches Buddha's doctrine.

WION: How do you see India, Sri Lanka ties?

Ven. Dr. Waskaduwe: Our mother land is India, my cultural and religious connection came from India to Sri Lanka. It is a close country for us. Our language also starts from India, Sanskrit, Pali. We must develop our friendship, sometimes, religious, cultural, economic friendship. Our elder brother is India.