The chief priest of the Shiva temple in Ayodhya, India, Kaishanand Giriji Maharaj, met with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath yesterday to discuss the expansion of religious and cultural ties between the two nations.
The high-level meeting took place as part of an official visit by a 14-member delegation, comprising both clergy and lay members, led by the chief priest.
The group has arrived to tour several of Sri Lanka’s most significant Hindu religious sites, a move expected to provide a substantial boost to the island’s burgeoning religious tourism sector.
The delegation’s itinerary includes visits to historic Shiva temples that draw thousands of Indian pilgrims annually.
Scheduled stops include Thiruketheeswaram in Mannar, Naguleswaram in Jaffna, and Koneswaram in Trincomalee.
They will also travel to the Seetha Amman temple in Nuwara Eliya and inspect the ancient ruins of Shiva temples within the UNESCO World Heritage site of Polonnaruwa.
Minister Herath highlighted the strategic importance of the visit, noting that the presence of such high-ranking religious leaders highlights Sri Lanka’s potential as a premier destination for spiritual travel.
The visit is viewed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a valuable opportunity to showcase the country’s rich Hindu heritage to a global audience, particularly to devotees from the Indian subcontinent.