A delegation of diplomats based in New Delhi is visiting Kandy this week to witness the historic Esala Perahera and experience Sri Lanka’s cultural and religious traditions.
The delegation includes 19 diplomats and accompanying family members representing embassies and high commissions in the Indian capital. Their visit takes place from August 26 to 28 as part of a specially arranged programme focused on the Esala Perahera.
Although based in New Delhi and accredited to India, the participating diplomats also represent their respective countries in Sri Lanka. At present, 99 ambassadors and high commissioners based in New Delhi are concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka.
The visit follows the presentation of credentials by six newly appointed heads of mission to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo on August 25. They include the designated high commissioners of Guyana, Ghana and Brunei Darussalam, as well as the designated ambassadors of Sudan, the Dominican Republic and Austria.
The wider delegation includes ambassadors, high commissioners and senior diplomatic representatives from Guyana, Ghana, Iceland, Papua New Guinea, Ireland, Tanzania, Zambia, the Dominican Republic, Austria and Latvia.
Experience the Kandy Esala Perahera: Sri Lanka’s most spectacular Cultural Festival
During their stay in Kandy, the visitors will tour the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, attend the traditional Thewawa ceremony and explore the International Buddhist Museum. They will also visit several other places of historical and cultural significance.
The highlight of the programme will be the Randoli Perahera on the evening of August 27. The event will give the diplomats an opportunity to experience one of Sri Lanka’s most important and visually impressive religious and cultural celebrations.
The programme also includes a traditional Kandyan dinner hosted by the Chief Custodian of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, followed by a traditional lunch at Ehelepola Walawwa. These events will introduce the visitors to Sri Lankan cuisine and hospitality.
Before leaving Kandy, the delegation will visit the Royal Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya, a gem and jewellery establishment and the Hantana Tea Museum. Together, these visits will showcase different aspects of Sri Lanka’s natural beauty, culture and economy.
The Sri Lankan High Commission in New Delhi, which organised the programme, said the visit is intended to strengthen cultural connections between Sri Lanka and the countries represented by the visiting diplomats.
It will also allow members of the diplomatic community to gain a broader understanding of Sri Lanka beyond formal meetings, through direct exposure to the country’s religious traditions, cultural performances, food and hospitality.
