Islamabad: The High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Pakistan, Rear Admiral (Rtd) Fred Senevirathne, met with the Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Division, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, to deliberate on cultural cooperation, heritage preservation, and the promotion of religious tourism.

According to Press Information Department, the meeting, which took place in Islamabad, was also attended by Most Venerable Thebo, a prominent Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka. The Federal Minister emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating religious and cultural tourism, particularly for countries with historical ties to the Gandhara Civilization. He welcomed the Sri Lankan delegation, noting Pakistan’s openness to Sri Lankan visitors, especially the Buddhist community, to explore Pakistan’s Buddhist heritage.

Rear Admiral Senevirathne expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s initiatives and reiterated his commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and creating opportunities for Buddhist communities and cultural collaboration. The Federal Minister highlighted the importance of enhancing people-to-people contacts to deepen mutual understanding and long-term cooperation.

Most Venerable Thebo acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts in preserving Gandhara heritage sites and expressed gratitude for the country’s commitment to safeguarding Buddhist heritage. During the discussions, both sides considered establishing a Gandhara Corner in Islamabad to preserve and showcase Gandhara artifacts, promoting shared cultural history.

The meeting also included a briefing by Secretary National Heritage and Culture Division, Asad Rahman Gilani, on preservation measures for the Gandhara Civilization. The Secretary reported that Pakistan, under Minister Khichi’s leadership, has successfully repatriated approximately 1,000 artifacts from Italy and is working to retrieve more from Australia.

The Federal Minister invited the delegation to visit additional Buddhist heritage sites and the Islamabad Museum to experience its artifacts and new Immersive Gallery. He stressed the importance of enhancing cultural exchange programs between Pakistan and Sri Lanka to solidify the longstanding friendship between the two nations.