India, Lanka ink pact of exposition of Kapilavastu Relics from Aug 20, 2012 to Sept 5, 2012

India and Sri Lanka inked an agreement regarding the organization of an exposition of the Sacred Kapilavastu Relics in Sri Lanka from August 20, 2012 to September 5, 2012.

• This would be for the second time since their discovery 113 years ago, the Sacred Kapilavastu Relics will travel to Sri Lanka from India’s National Museum situated in New Delhi. The first Exposition of Sacred Relics in Sri Lanka was in 1978.

The Exposition is being organized in Sri Lanka at the request made by the President of Sri Lanka to the PM of India to furnish a chance to the followers of Buddhism in Sri Lanka to pay homage to the Kapilavastu Relics.

• Background:

The Sacred Kapilavastu Relics were excavated by Alexander Cunningham, the first director of the Archaeological Survey of India, in the late 19^th century from ruins in Piprahwa, in present day Bihar; Piprahwa was known as Kapilavastu in ancient Indian history.