Wat Pu Pha Sung Prepares to Welcome Sri Lanka's Chief Sangha Patriarch on May 10
A ceremony to enshrine an Emperor Ashoka statue will take place May 10 at Wat Pa Pu Pha Sung in Nakhon Ratchasima, presided over by Sri Lanka's Chief Sangha Patriarch and featuring rare Buddhist cooperation between Thailand and Sri Lanka.
Wat Pa Pu Pha Sung and the adjacent monastic quarters of Wat Phra Brom Dhatu Chedi Sri Pu Pha Sung (Phra Thatu Chom Pha) in Nakhon Ratchasima Province will host a grand ceremony to enshrine a statue of Emperor Ashoka at the "Dharma Victory" altar on May 10, 2026 at 3:00 PM. The event, organized in collaboration with the Thanya Kongthop Tham Foundation led by lawyer Anantchai Chaidej, is significant for both Thai and Sri Lankan Buddhism and expects large Buddhist attendance.
The ceremony will be presided over by the Chief Sangha Patriarch of Sri Lanka, Waaragakodata Sri Gnanaratana Mahathero from the Siamese lineage, along with other senior monks and government officials. Phra Maha Theernath Akkhadheero, the presiding monk of Wat Pa Pu Pha Sung, described the event as a rare and special opportunity for Thai Buddhists to pay respects to the visiting Sri Lankan Sangha Patriarch, symbolizing the victory of Dharma over Adharma. The Thanya Kongthop Tham Foundation will provide significant support including coordination, activity organization, establishment of food stations, and volunteer mobilization.
Wat Pa Pu Pha Sung, established in 1994 on Khao Chang Luang at approximately 760 meters elevation, operates within the Dhammayuttika Nikaya and contains over 2,800 rai of forest as a peaceful meditation center. The visit of the Sri Lankan Chief Sangha Patriarch reflects strengthened cooperation between Thailand and Sri Lanka, as well as deeper relations between the Thai and Sri Lankan Buddhist communities.
