Sri Lankan Buddhist monks who visited Pakistan said on Saturday that the paradisiacal Swat valley remained the centre of Buddhism and had immense importance for Buddhists all over the world, Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper reported .According to the news report in Dawn, they said this during their visit to the Buddhist archaeological sites of Gandhara Buddhist civilisation in Swat valley.The delegation include senior monks Dr Walpole Piyananda, Dr Bodagama Chandima, Dr Assaji Thero, Dr Pallegama Rathanasara, Prof Kallanchiye Rathanasiri, Ven.Uduwe Dhammaloka, Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda, Embilipitiye Rahula, Korathota Dammadassi, Dr Atapattukande Ananda, Asela Pushpa Kumara Wickramasinghe and Aaishah Abu Bakr Fahad, who is Second Secretary (political) at Pakistan High Commission, Colombo.The monks said that Swat valley had high importance for Buddhists and its name meant a blessing.
