Kathmandu, May 15

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari addressed the closing ceremony of United Nations Vesak Day with the theme of ‘Buddhist Teachings for Social Justice and Sustainable World Peace’ in Kandy, Sri Lanka, as chief guest yesterday.

She highlighted the teachings of Lord Buddha and their relevance in the present day context for world peace and social harmony, according to a release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She also conveyed the message of peace, tolerance and fraternity to the world from the land of Gautam Buddha.

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and other high ranking officials of Sri Lanka as well as prominent Buddhist scholars from 72 countries attended.

President Bhandari also held a bilateral meeting with her Sri Lankan counterpart, President Sirisena in Colombo in which the two leaders discussed bilateral issues as well as other matters of common concern.

An official told this daily that the two presidents discussed the prospects of trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people relations between the two South Asian countries.

Meanwhile, President Bhandari also paid homage to the Sacred Tooth relic of Gautam Buddha at Dalada Maligawa, Kandy and also visited Peradeniya Botanical Garden in Kandy and planted a sapling of “Diospyros Nnummulariifolia” belonging to the Ebenaceae family.

The head of state had reached Sri Lanka via Bangkok of Thailand on Saturday. She is scheduled to return home tomorrow.