The Minister of Tourism in consultation with the President has decided to appoint B. Sirisena Cooray to handle an important project of great cultural significance in the Ministry of Tourism. Cooray will assist the Ministry in developing a Buddhist Pilgrim Travel Trail initially between Sri Lanka and India and later extending this to encompass SAARC, South East and East Asia.

In the past there have been considerable travel involving of pilgrims, monks, nuns and scholars interested in Buddhist doctrine and Buddhist Studies in the region. Sri Lanka has achieved the distinction of having protected and nurtured the Pure Theravada Buddhism and thereby rendered outstanding service to world culture.

B. Sirisena Cooray has over a long distinguished and varied career earned the reputation of being a doer. He has also considerable experience in helping to develop Buddhagaya when he had held ministerial office previously.