Anuradhapura [Sri Lanka], April 6 (ANI): Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thero, a prominent Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka, has expressed his happiness and gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's second visit to Sri Lanka's Anuradhapura and praised India's support, saying 'whenever Sri Lanka is in trouble, India stands up like a family.'

Speaking to ANI, he highlighted the significance of Anuradhapura as a sacred site for Buddhists, particularly due to the presence of the 2,300-year-old Bodhi tree, where Buddhism originated in Sri Lanka.

'Prime Minister Modi has come here for the second time, and we are very happy that he has come here. Anuradhapura is very special for people as they come to this place for 2300-year-old Bodhi tree. This is the place where Buddhism started in Sri Lanka,' he said.

'Stupa here had relics of Buddha which makes it very special. Buddhism is the biggest gift from India to Sri Lanka whenever Sri Lanka is in trouble, India stands up like family,' he added.

The Chief Sanghanayake of Nuwara Kalaviya and Chief Incumbent of Ruwanweli Maha Seya Most, Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thero has been appointed as the Anuradhapura Atamasthanadhipathi on November 3, 2022, as per local sources information.

The appointment follows the passing of Ven. Pallegama Siriniwasa Nayaka Thero, the previous Atamasthanadhipathi, who died at the age of 69.

According to local sources, the Atamasthana Committee unanimously selected Ven. Hemarathana Thero for the role, making him the11th consecutive Atamasthanadhipathi of Anuradhapura.

Chief Sanghanayake of Nuwara Kalaviya refer to the head of the Buddhist monastic order within the Nuwara Kalaviya region, a geographical area in Sri Lanka and the Chief Incumbent of Ruwanweli Maha Seya respectively, a position which indicates the highest authority within the Ruwanweli Maha Seya, a large stupa (Buddhist temple) in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday departed for Tamil Nadu's Rameswaram after concluding his three-day visit State visit to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake saw him off at the airport.

On the occasion of Ram Navami, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's first vertical lift sea bridge, the New Pamban Bridge in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu. (ANI)