According to a proposal put forward by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for the approval of the cabinet of ministers, the government is considering establishing a Pirivena to halt the decline of Buddhism in India, the land of its birth.

The practice of Theravada Buddhism is declining in India, where it was widely prevailed in the past, and there is no established institute in India to teach Theravada Buddhism, the proposal points out.

The Prime Minister has proposed to make necessary arrangements to establish a Pirivena in Sanchi to teach Theravada Buddhism in collaboration with the State Government of Madhya Pradesh.

Sanchi is the oldest Buddhist sanctuary in existence and was a major Buddhist center in India until the 12th century A.D.

The government has received the cabinet approval to commence preliminary negotiations with the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh during the upcoming visit of President Maithripala Sirisena to Sanchi and to proceed with relevant activities.