A group of ambassadors and high commissioners based in New Delhi travelled to Kandy this week to witness the Esala Perahera festival, part of a programme designed to deepen international understanding of Sri Lanka's cultural and religious heritage.
Nineteen diplomats and family members from embassies and high commissions headquartered in New Delhi arrived in Kandy on August 26 for a three-day immersion in Sri Lanka's cultural traditions, centred around the Esala Perahera festival. The visiting delegation included senior representatives from ten countries: Guyana, Ghana, Iceland, Papua New Guinea, Ireland, Tanzania, Zambia, the Dominican Republic, Austria and Latvia.
The programme, coordinated by the Sri Lankan High Commission in New Delhi, was designed to provide international envoys with experiences beyond formal diplomatic engagements. The visit coincided with the arrival of six newly appointed heads of mission who presented their credentials to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo on August 25. According to the Indian High Commission, the initiative underscores New Delhi's significance as a hub for Sri Lanka's broader diplomatic engagement with the international community, as ninety-nine ambassadors and high commissioners based in the Indian capital also represent their nations in Sri Lanka.
Activities during the visit included tours of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, attendance at the Thewawa ceremony, and witnessing the Randoli Perahera on August 27. Diplomats also visited the International Buddhist Museum and other historically significant sites, while experiencing traditional Kandyan cuisine through meals hosted by the Chief Custodian of the Temple and at Ehelepola Walawwa.
The programme concluded with visits to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya, a gem and jewellery establishment, and the Hanthana Tea Museum, offering insights into Sri Lanka's natural resources, cultural assets and economic sectors. The High Commission described the visit as an opportunity to strengthen people-to-people connections and deepen international understanding of Sri Lanka's heritage.
