Sri Lanka High Commission Commemorates 162nd Birth Anniversary of Anagarika Dharmapala in New Delhi

The 162nd birth anniversary of Anagarika Dharmapala was commemorated in New Delhi on September 17, 2026, with the participation of the High Commission of Sri Lanka.

The commemorative event was organised by the Maha Bodhi Society of India at the Buddha Vihara in New Delhi. Ms. Nirosha Herath, Minister Counsellor at the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi, attended the event as the Chief Guest.

The event honoured the life and legacy of Anagarika Dharmapala, a prominent figure in the modern Buddhist revival and the founder of the Maha Bodhi Society of India in 1891.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Counsellor Herath highlighted the deep civilizational and spiritual ties between Sri Lanka and India, which have been strengthened over centuries through their shared Buddhist heritage.

She also recalled Dharmapala’s significant contribution to renewing international attention to India’s sacred Buddhist sites, particularly Bodh Gaya, and his efforts towards their preservation as places of pilgrimage for Buddhists from Sri Lanka, India and around the world.

Herath noted that Dharmapala’s legacy continues through the preservation and appreciation of India’s Buddhist heritage, as well as the enduring people-to-people and spiritual connections between Sri Lanka and India.

Members of the Maha Sangha, the Sri Lankan community, students and well-wishers attended the commemoration, which reflected on Anagarika Dharmapala’s contribution to the shared Buddhist heritage of the two countries.