Pakistan, Sri Lanka to enhance religious tourism, cultural ties

Pakistan and Sri Lanka – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk) – Pakistan and Sri Lanka have agreed to strengthen cultural ties by promoting religious tourism, with plans for joint heritage programs and cultural exhibitions, an official statement said Tuesday.

The announcement followed a meeting in Islamabad between Pakistan’s National Heritage and Culture Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi and Sri Lankan Ambassador Rear Admiral (retd) Fred Seneviratne.

Pakistan is home to a diverse range of religious sites, including Islamic shrines, Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras, and Buddhist heritage locations, welcoming visitors from different faiths.

“Religious tourism can play a key role in fostering people-to-people connections and cultural exchange,” Khichi said.

The statement added that trusted tour operators from both countries will organize special religious and cultural tours to encourage deeper engagement.

The statement said both sides agreed to organize joint cultural exhibitions, art displays and heritage programs to provide platforms for artists, craftsmen and cultural institutions from Pakistan and Sri Lanka to showcase their work.

It added that the Sri Lankan envoy was informed about the availability of virtual tours of major Buddhist heritage sites in Pakistan, allowing global audiences to explore the country’s rich cultural legacy.

According to the statement, the Sri Lankan envoy expressed interest in the architectural and cultural artifacts preserved in Pakistani museums, particularly in Taxila and Lahore.

In 2021, a 14-member delegation of Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka, led by Dr. Walpola Piyananda undertook a week-long pilgrimage to holy sites in Pakistan. According to its members, Pakistan was home to one of the most exotic Buddhist civilizations of the past.

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Pakistan and Sri Lanka share long-standing ties with cooperation across various sectors.

In December last year, Pakistan provided assistance to Sri Lanka in the form of relief aid and rescue workers following disastrous floods across the tropical island nation.