• A wide range of issues, including the age-old cultural and religious relations between India and Sri Lanka were discussed
• Two large framed photographs of Buddhist historic significance were gifted to the organization to mark the occasion

Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda met with Chief of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Shri Mohan Bhagwat at its headquarters in Nagpur, Maharashtra for the promotion of Hindu- Buddhist cultural links, a statement said.

 The Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh, literally meaning the 'National Volunteer Organization', is a large and widespread Indian Hindu volunteer organization with a membership of 5-6 million.

Founded by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar on 27 September 1925 in Nagpur with the intention of creating a Hindu nation, the RSS promotes the ideals of upholding Indian culture and the values of civil society and spreads the ideology of Hindutva, to strengthen the Hindu community.

Mr.Bhagwat extended a very warm welcome to the High Commissioner.

 ’A wide range of issues were discussed, including the age-old cultural and religious relations between India and Sri Lanka, especially between Buddhism and Hinduism, and sought ways and means through which a dialogue could be established between these two world religions - both originated in India. The senior office bearers of the organization were also present at the meeting.

The High Commissioner gifted two large framed photographs to the organization to mark the occasion. These photographs feature two murals from the Kelaniya Rajamaha Vihara which depict the gift of Buddhism to Sri Lanka by India. Of these photographs, the first depicts a mural of Arahat Mahinda delivering the message of the Buddha to King Devanampiyatissa upon arriving in Sri Lanka while the second depicts the arrival of Theri Sanghamitta to Sri Lanka bearing the right-hand branch sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi Tree.

Earlier in the day, Moragoda paid a floral tribute to the memorial of the late Dr. Keshav Hedgewar, founder of the Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh. There, at the Dr. Hedgewar Smarak Samiti (Hedgewar Memorial Committee) building,  he also unveiled the two photographs that were gifted, in the presence of the senior officials of the Committee.

 Shri Mohan Bhagwat is the 6th Sarsanghchalak of RSS holding it since 2009.