On Thursday, October 28, the High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in India visited the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple site in Ayodhya along with two ministers from the Sri Lankan government.
The Sri Lankan government had sent Shilas (stones) from the Ashok Vatika in their country where Maa Sita was held captive by Raavan. The Shilas were offered to the Ram Mandir Trust. The Shils are from the Sita Mandir located at Ashok Vatika.
श्रीलंका स्थित अशोक वाटिका में स्थापित श्री सीता मन्दिर की एक शिला आज श्रीलंका के माननीय उच्चायुक्त एवं मंत्री महोदय ने अयोध्या आकर भगवान श्री रामलला जी के सम्मुख सन्त-महापुरुषों को भेंट की। pic.twitter.com/SuGRP1rdQy
— Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra (@ShriRamTeerth) October 28, 2021
In a Tweet, the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Trust shared that the envoys and the Sri Lankan ministers also participated in Puja and performed Aarti of Shri Ram Lalla at the Janmabhoomi site.
High Commissioner, Deputy High Commissioner & 2 Ministers from the National Goverment of Srilanka today visited Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir & donated ‘shila’ brought from Ashok Vatika in Srilanka.
— Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra (@ShriRamTeerth) October 28, 2021
The dignitaries also performed Pujan and Aarati of Bhagwan Shri Ramlalla Sarkar. pic.twitter.com/beOWzU1LOj
In a Tweet, Ram Mandir Trust chairperson Champat Rai had shared that Milinda Moragoda, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in New Delhi, along with his wife Jennifer Moragaoda had visited the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple site in Ayodhya today.
Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in India Niluka Kadurugamuwa, and two ministers of the Sri Lankan government had also accompanied them.
In Ayodhya with Shri Champat Rai General Secretary of the Ayodhya Temple Trust and Rishikesh Upadhyay Mayor of #Ayodhya. #lka #SriLanka #India pic.twitter.com/VM3TwKUfkL
— Milinda Moragoda (@MilindaMoragoda) October 28, 2021
It is notable here that the Ashok Vatika, where Raavan had kept Mata Sita captive, is located in Sri Lanka’s central province, near the town of Nuwara Elia. The place is called Seetha Elia and it has a temple dedicated to Maa Sitha, popularly called the Sithai Amman Temple. It is one of the popular pilgrim and tourist attractions of the island nation. The Vigrahas of Lord Ram, Laxman and Maa Sitha are worshipped in the temple.
