PESHAWAR: The statues of Buddha and sculptures about his life awed the members of a Sri Lankan delegation during their visit to Peshawar Museum on Tuesday.Peshawar Museum has a large collection of Buddhist relics. The delegation consisted of Chief Priest of Western Province, Ministry of Heritage and Cultural Affairs, government of Sri Lanka, Dr Akuratiya Nanda Nayaka Thero, Minister-Counsellor of High Commission of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, M.H.M.N. Bandara, Prof T.K. Nimal P. De Silva, Director General Central Cultural Fund and Prof B.D. Nandadeva of University of Kelaniya, said a press release issued by Directorate of Archaeology Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.The chief priest said that he was surprised to see the rich collection of relics and sculptures in the museum. He said that he enjoyed the visit.
“I was amazed to see the Buddhist sculptures of Gandhara. No comparison. It is supreme,” said Prof De Silva.The Sir Lankan delegation was received by director of Archaeology and Museums Saleh Mohammad Khan and the curator of Peshawar Museum, Nidaullah Sehrai, who briefed them about the Buddhist civilisation of Gandhara. They showed the delegation 74 sculptures exhibited in the main hall of museum, depicting the life of Buddha.They delegation members also visited the Bodhisattva gallery. They were impressed by the iconographic representation of Gandhara sculptures.The Buddha’s 2,600 years of enlightenment would be celebrated in Sri Lanka with great enthusiasm. The curator informed the delegation that Buddha relics were recovered from Shah-ji-ki-Dheri in Peshawar so Peshawar and Kandy city of Sri Lanka were declared as sister cities in the past. – Dawn
