India and Sri Lanka Celebrate Friendship with New Arch and Tree Planting
Colombo, Sri Lanka – On August 8, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, and Sri Lankan Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana inaugurated the ‘Sri Lanka – India Friendship Arch’ at the National Sandalwood Garden. This event is part of the ‘Plant4Mother’ campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Symbol of Friendship
The Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka shared that the arch is a testament to the long-standing friendship between India and Sri Lanka. The event saw participation from several important figures, including Hon. Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and members of the Sri Lanka-India Parliamentary Friendship Association, who planted Murutha saplings to symbolize a shared commitment to a greener future.
Plant4Mother Campaign
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign on World Environment Day, June 5, calling for the planting of 140 crore trees across India. He also planted a Peepal tree sapling at Buddha Jayanti Park in Delhi.
Political Discussions
In addition to the inauguration, Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha met with former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to discuss political developments in Sri Lanka.
Doubts Revealed
High Commissioner -: A High Commissioner is like an ambassador, a person who represents their country in another country. Santosh Jha is India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan Speaker -: The Speaker is the person who leads the meetings in the Parliament of Sri Lanka. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana is the current Speaker.
Friendship Arch -: A Friendship Arch is a special structure built to show the strong friendship between two countries. In this case, it shows the friendship between India and Sri Lanka.
National Sandalwood Garden -: This is a special garden in Sri Lanka where sandalwood trees are grown. Sandalwood is a type of tree known for its fragrant wood.
Plant4Mother campaign -: This is a campaign started by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to encourage people to plant trees and take care of the environment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi -: He is the current Prime Minister of India, the leader of the Indian government.
Mahinda Rajapaksa -: He is a former President of Sri Lanka, a leader who used to be in charge of the country.
