Kathmandu May 7

– Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the Buddha Jayanti has further inspired us to show our solidarity in support of humanity and to combat against the coronavirus pandemic. The Prime Minister stated this in a message of best wishes he gave on the occasion of the 2564th Buddha Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha, the apostle of peace. He also paid homage to the pioneer of world peace, human wellbeing and non-violence on this occasion.

He said Lumbini, the birth place of the Buddha, has a special importance in enhancing the country’s international prestige, popularity and tourism development, adding that the Lumbini Development Master Plan that was developed with the involvement of the United Nations is also implemented. The PM expressed regrets that the International Buddhist Summit that was scheduled to be held in Lumbini on this Buddha Jayanti had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Had it not been for coronavirus pandemic, we would be preparing for the International Day of Vesak Day programme as declared from Hanoi of Viet Nam last year. Lumbini would be agog with activities with this even, an important programme of the Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign,” he said.

He added that the government has been giving high importance to development of Lumbini as the centre of attraction of followers of Buddhism as well as other visitors from across the world. Prime Minister Oli reiterated that meaningful efforts were on to give a concrete shape to the concept of Lumbini as the World Peace City, describing it as the place of origin of the Buddhist philosophy.

The world community should pay its attention to Lumbini’s development. “I express my deep condolences to all those people the world over who lost their lives due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Also, I wish speedy recovery to all those affected by the virus. I am confident that we would be successful in saving the life of the human race by defeating this pandemic through global joint efforts and solidarity,” Prime Minister Oli said in his message.