Itanagar, Feb 11: Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Tuesday highlighted the strong cultural and spiritual connections between Arunachal Pradesh and Sri Lanka, rooted in Theravada Buddhist traditions, during a meeting with Sri Lankan ministers in Colombo.

Mein emphasized Arunachal’s tourism potential, noting that despite the geographical distance, the two regions share enduring socio-religious ties. He cited ongoing exchanges of monks between Namsai in eastern Arunachal and Sri Lanka for advanced studies, Abhidhamma teachings, and discourses promoting Lord Buddha’s message of compassion, peace, and harmony.

The Deputy Chief Minister was part of an official Indian delegation in Colombo to receive and escort the sacred Devnimori relics of Lord Buddha back to India. Discussions also focused on strengthening bilateral relations under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, including India’s support to Sri Lanka during crises, which has fostered closer cooperation.

The talks highlighted the deep civilizational links between the two nations, grounded in shared cultural and spiritual heritage.