A 38-member delegation of Sri Lankan monks performed religious rituals for the first time at an ancient Buddhist historical site in northwest Pakistan.

The monks conducted rituals during Visak festival at Buddhist remains in Takht-e-Bahi tehsil of Mardan and Hund area of Swabi districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Press Trust of India reported.

The delegation comprising ministers and professors from different universities of Sri Lanka and 13 pilgrims visited the Buddhist worship places.

The delegation visited the old Buddhist sacred places and offered worship there.

A member of the delegation C M Madduma Badara said that they were very fortunate and privileged to visit the sacred places in Pakistan.

Pakistani officials said that in future Buddhists from all over the world would be invited to visit their sacred and worship places in Pakistan.

Later, the delegation visited Hund Museum in Swabi and witnessed the sacred statues of Buddhist gods. (Colombo Gazette)