BUTWAL: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has laid the foundation stone of Lumbini International Buddhist Meditation Centre and Assembly Hall to be constructed in Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, amidst a ceremony today.

The foundation-stone-laying-ceremony was organised today coinciding with Buddha Jayanti, which is the birth anniversary of Buddha.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari and Province 5 Chief Minister Shankar Pokhrel were present on the occasion.

It may be noted that two years ago, the then Prime Minister Oli, who had been in Lumbini to observe the 2560th Buddha Jayanti, had instructed the Lumbini Development Trust to construct an assembly hall capable of accommodating 5,000 people.

Prime Minister Oli had given this instruction following the delay in organising special celebrations for Buddha Jayanti due to rain and storm. At the time, the ceremony was held under a tent.

The Trust has already signed a contract for constructing the new structure at a cost of Rs 270 million.

The hall will be built in the shape of a monastery. It is expected to be completed within the next two years, according to Trust officiating member secretary Saroj Bhattarai.