The Embassy of Sri Lanka to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union organised a ‘Pirith Chanting Ceremony’ on 08 August 2026, seeking to invoke the blessings of the Noble Triple Gem — Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha — on all Sri Lankans. The ceremony, held at the ‘Sri Lanka Residence’ in Brussels, attracted a large number of Sri Lankans living in Belgium, as well as Belgian and other nationals.

Venerable Kurunegala Anandagosha Thero of the ‘Mahamevna’ Buddhist Monastery in the Netherlands and Venerable Dankotuwe Gothamawansha Thero of the ‘Mahamevna’ Buddhist Monastery in Paris, France conducted the Pirith Chanting, engaging in a sacred Buddhist ritual dating back 2,500 years to the era of Lord Gautama Buddha, and graciously bestowed blessings on Sri Lanka, the world and all living beings. The offering of ‘Shabda Pooja’, a sound offering or acoustic homage, by the Sri Lankan ‘Hewisi’ band, performed by three Sri Lankan students based in Belgium dressed in traditional attire, added colour to the ceremony. The Embassy distributed a specially printed booklet containing all the Pirith and Sutras chanted during the ceremony, enabling participants to join the chanting, which proved to be a novel experience for many. Following the conclusion of the overnight Pirith Chanting, Heel Dane (morning almsgiving) was offered to the venerable Maha Sangha at dawn. All attendees were also offered a Sri Lankan dinner and refreshments consisting of traditional food items and sweetmeats.

The Pirith Chanting Ceremony was significant as it was the first such event organised by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Belgium and was held in line with the national policies of protecting and promoting Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage. The Sri Lankan community in Belgium supported the event through generous donations of food items and ‘Pirikara’, as well as assistance with transport, decorations and other logistical arrangements.

Sri Lankans in Belgium, as well as Belgian and other nationals who participated in the ceremony, were especially pleased to have the opportunity to witness and experience an important Buddhist ritual with a history spanning thousands of years, presented in its full splendour in Europe.

Embassy of Sri Lanka
Brussels

17 August 2026