The ninth International Day of Yoga was held at Independence Square.

The Indian High Commission in Colombo and Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), in collaboration with various yoga institutes, organised a yoga event at Independence Square to mark the 9th International Day of Yoga (IDY) today.

The event saw the participation of nearly a thousand people, including the special invitees: Ministers Dr. Susil Premajayantha, Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana, and Ali Sabry, PC; State Ministers Sisira Jayakody and A. Aravindh Kumar; Dr. Suren Raghavan; and the Indian envoy in Colombo, Gopal Baglay.

The event commenced with prayers by the Chief Priest of the Parama Dhamma Chethiya Pirivena in Ratmalana, Most Ven. Dr. Maitipe Wimalasera Thera, invoking the blessings of the Buddha for humanity’s overall wellbeing. The highlight of the programme was a 20-minute yoga and meditation session for the participants conducted by experts from 25 eminent yoga institutes in Sri Lanka.