Replica of Ashoka Pillar Unveiled in Waskaduwa, Sri Lanka, Reinforcing India–Sri Lanka Buddhist Ties
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On July 21, 2025, the Waskaduwa Sri Subhuthi Viharaya, a prominent Buddhist temple about 42 km south of Colombo in Kalutara district, witnessed the inauguration of Sri Lanka’s first-ever replica of King Ashoka’s Pillar of Dhamma. The unveiling ceremony featured Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, chief incumbent Most Venerable Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayaka Thero, and dignitaries including Dr. Damenda Porage, Deputy Secretary-General of the International Buddhist Confederation.
This replica pays tribute to Emperor Ashoka’s monumental contributions to Buddhism in Sri Lanka, most notably sending his son Arhat Mahinda and daughter Sanghamitta to establish the faith on the island. The temple—renowned for housing authentic Kapilavastu relics of Lord Buddha and his chief disciples Sariputra and Maudgalyayana—served as the ideal location for the installation and accompanying relic exposition.
The pillar’s sponsorship came from Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, a leading Tibetan Buddhist luminary, who donated it in commemoration of the 14th Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday. The foundation stone was originally laid on January 28, 2024, in a joint ceremony including Jha and IBC Secretary General Shartse Khensur Jangchup Choeden Rinpoche.
In his address, High Commissioner Jha emphasized that the Ashokan pillar not only symbolizes “deep historical, cultural and spiritual India–Sri Lanka ties” but also marks India’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Buddhist heritage—in areas such as providing solar electrification to thousands of viharas, supporting Anuradhapura renovation, and organizing mobile exhibitions and relic tours. The inauguration underscores a living legacy of shared faith and civilizational connection—a heritage nurtured over millennia and renewed through initiatives that reach far beyond symbolic architecture.
This event offers more than just a monument; it acts as a living bridge between ancient connections—from Ashoka’s historic patronage to today’s cultural cooperation—celebrating a Buddhist legacy embraced by both nations.
