中国佛学网海外讯 据斯里兰卡dailynews报道，2008年10月，斯里兰卡总理拉特纳西里·维克拉马纳亚克在访问了中国云南省的一家寺院后做了讲话。他说，全世界的佛教徒都将斯里兰卡尊为南传佛教的国度。他们到斯里兰卡访问时，都对斯里兰卡的佛寺表示赞叹。他还表示，南传佛教和大乘佛教遵奉相同的佛理，佛教是联结中国和斯里兰卡的纽带。中国人民把斯里兰卡看作是他们的第二故乡，这种特殊情谊源自佛教。

China-Lanka ties originate from Buddhism - Prime Minister
Buddhists throughout the world respect Sri Lanka as the country which professes Theravada Buddhism.

They should visit Sri Lanka which possesses highly respected Buddhist places of worship, said Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka. Prime Minister Wickramanayaka was speaking after visiting the Buddhist temple at Yuantong Province in China and was received by Chief Priest and devotees.

The Theravada and Mahayana doctrines profess the same philosophy. Ties between China and Sri Lanka originate from Buddhism itself.

Chief Priest Yang Non said that the people of China considered Sri Lanka as their second home," the Prime Minister said."This unique relationship originates from the bonds of Buddhism," the Thera said.