A Special Temple Stay Programme was organised by the historic Bongeun Temple in Seoul in collaboration with the Embassy of Sri Lanka on Sunday 24 June 2018 with the participation of Sri Lankan clergy, about 80 Sri Lankan employees living in different regions of Korea, as well as Embassy staff and their families. 

On this first ever Temple Stay programme arranged for the Sri Lanka community, Chief Priest of Bongeunsa Ven. Won Myung and the Ambassador of Sri Lanka Manisha Gunasekera delivered congratulatory remarks. The programme included an attractive cultural programme featuring the traditional tea ceremony of Korea, a musical performance by Bongeun Korean Classical Orchestra as well as traditional Sri Lankan dance and Bathi Geeperformances by members of the Sri Lanka Students’ Association in Korea and the choir of Korea Sri Lanka Maha Vihara Temple in Korea. Counsellor (Employment & Welfare) of the Embassy Jagath Batugedera made a brief presentation on the “Diriya Maga” awareness & counseling programme to the Sri Lankan employees present. Korean traditional temple foods as well as Sri Lankan delicacies were served to the participants who had the opportunity to appreciate the unique temple culture of Korea.

Prior to the event, the Ambassador met with the Chief Priest of Bongeunsa Ven. Won Myung and discussed issues of mutual interest. She also presented two framed photographs of famous Buddhist heritage sites in Sri Lanka to the Chief Priest for display in the Temple premises, with a view to sensitising the Korean public to the many attractions of Sri Lanka.

Bongeunsa is one of the main Temples of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism with a history spanning 1200 years.