Pak sends statue of 'fasting Buddha' to Lanka

ISLAMABAD: Responding to a request by Sri Lanka, Pakistan has sent an ancient statue of 'fasting Buddha' to the island nation which is celebrating the 2550th year of Buddha's birth.

The rare piece of art work has been put on display at a prominent temple in Colombo.

"In response to a request made by the president of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapakse during his resent visit to Pakistan, the Government of Pakistan has made special arrangements to send the statue of "Fasting Buddha" to Sri Lanka to mark the 2550th year of Buddha Jayanthi," an official release said here.

The statue, considerered a great piece of artistic creation, was rarely moved from the Lahore Museum. "The image was taken to Japan only once under special circumstances", it said.

The statue was handed over to the country by the Pakistani High Commissioner Bashir Wali in a special ceremony in Colombo which was also attended by the Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Cultural Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane.